Presenting The “Hesn” System As A Model For The Role Of Technology In Epidemiological Surveillance In Public Health

Abstract

Introduction: Information and communication technologies (ICT) has the capacity to significantly enhance the efficiency and precision of crucial public health activities such as prediction, monitoring, identification of outbreaks, and response. This statement holds particularly true for recent advancements in digital technology. When assessing the pros and cons of utilizing digital technologies for public health tasks, it is crucial to consider the range and types of available digital technology, as well as contextual information about diseases and the regions in which they are employed.

Aim of work:  To present the “HESN” system as a model for the role of technology in epidemiological surveillance in public health

Methods: Using the following search keywords, we performed a thorough search of the electronic literature in the MEDLINE database: HESN, System, Model, Role, Technology, Epidemiological, Surveillance, Public, Health. To find relevant literature, the search was limited to articles from 2016 to 2021. We looked through scholarly articles related to my topic by doing a search on Google Scholar. Certain inclusion criteria influenced the articles that were chosen.

Results: The study's analysis included papers that were published between 2015 and 2021. The research was divided up into several parts, each having a header for the discussion portion.

Conclusion: The use of digital technology in healthcare services in Saudi Arabia has facilitated communication between the general population and healthcare experts. The Saudi Arabian Ministry of Health has initiated a social media campaign[1] to endorse the Epidemiological Surveillance Program (HESN), a system that assists in averting disease outbreaks and enhancing public health results. The program oversees contagious diseases and outbreaks via the internet, establishes uniform health protocols, and minimizes inconsistencies in monitoring. HESN comprises modules such as Communicable Diseases and Epidemics Surveillance, Epidemic Outbreaks, Immunizations and Vaccinations, Material Inventory, Business Administration and Organizations, and Public Health Reporting HESN has been found to facilitate the communication between healthcare experts in different institutions, in addition, it eased the reporting of contagious diseases to the relevant authorities.