Objective.

To describe development and implementation of a simplified epidemiological surveillance system based on mhealth model designed for the Paraguayan Chaco.

Materials and method.

The system consists of a telephone system run by software, open-source WEB applications and database. The number of cases under surveillance are reported to the system by pressing the keys on the telephone answering the questions on the answering machine.

Results.

The model was implemented in five localities of the District "Teniente Irala Fernández" of the Paraguayan Chaco; the selected syndromes were: diarrhea, acute febrile, acute respiratory, chronic respiratory and febrile eruptive. The system allows weekly notification (in a fixed day) in which reminding messages are sent every hour until the notification is effective. Alert notification is also allowed (at any time). The system confirmed notifications to all levels of users. Between May 15th and November 20th; 2013; 968 cases were reported to the system: 171 diarrheal, 770 acute respiratory and 27 chronic respiratory cases. The model was recognized as simple, easy to use and very useful.

Conclusion.

A community epidemiological notification model is available with very good acceptance due to its simplicity. The system has generated information on the trends of these syndromes in these communities, in agreement with the national situation.

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