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Implementation of a Mobile-Based Surveillance System in Saudi Arabia for the 2009 Hajj

Supporting Files Public Domain


Details

  • Alternative Title:
    Online J Public Health Inform
  • Personal Author:
    Li, Wei
  • Description:
    Objective

    To develop and implement a mobile-based disease surveillance system in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) for the 2009 Hajj; to strengthen public health preparedness for the H1N1 Influenza A pandemic.

    Introduction

    The Hajj is considered to be the largest mass gathering to date, attracting an estimated 2.5 million Muslims from more than 160 countries annually (1). The H1N1 Influenza A pandemic of 2009 generated a global wave of concern among public health departments that resulted in the institution of preventive measures to limit transmission of the disease. Meanwhile, the pandemic amplified an urgent need for more innovative disease surveillance tools to combat disease outbreaks.

    Methods

    We designed a case-based system consisting of a mobile-based data collection toolkit and interactive map-based user interface to perform geospatial analysis and visualization. A train-the-trainer approach was adapted to provide training to the KSA MOH.

    Results

    More than 200 public health and information and communication technology (ICT) professionals were trained, and 100 mobile devices were deployed during the 2009 Hajj. Nine diseases and conditions that were considered as highest priority during the Hajj were under surveillance, including H1N1 Influenza A and Influenza-like Illness.

    Conclusions

    Effective public health decision-making requires timely and accurate information from a variety of sources. Mobile-based systems (e.g., personal digital assistants and smartphones) for data collection, transmission, reporting, and analyses provide a faster, easier, and cheaper means to communicate standardized and shareable public health data for decision-making (3). Mobile-based systems have been recognized as a quick and effective response solution to mass gatherings and recommended as data gathering and communication systems with geographical information system (GIS) capability (2). This paper explored the development and implementation of the Global Positioning System/ Geographic Information System (GPS/GIS) enabled mobile-based disease surveillance system as a feasible and effective way to support and strengthen preparedness for H1N1 Influenza A during the 2009 Hajj.

  • Subjects:
  • Source:
    Online J Public Health Inform. 2013; 5(1).
  • Document Type:
    Journal Article
  • Place as Subject:
    Saudi Arabia
  • Volume:
    5
  • Issue:
    1
  • Collection(s):
  • Main Document Checksum:
    urn:sha256:ef6777a644081eb2f6045ca062085aea26312eec80f16b75a97a7ba9768a41e7
  • Download URL:
  • File Type:
    Filetype[PDF - 551.48 KB ]
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