Your phone number: A lifeline to contain disease outbreaks

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OPINION

By Sharon Namasambi

When we think about fighting disease outbreaks, vaccines and quarantine often come to mind, and rightly so, as they are proven tools against infectious diseases. But there’s one simple, often overlooked tool that can be just as powerful in protecting lives: your phone number.

When a health worker asks for your phone number, it is more than routine; it’s a vital tool for protecting your health and that of your family and community. Your number provides a direct link to share test results, give important instructions, or offer guidance if you have been exposed to an infectious disease. Even if you feel fine, symptoms can appear later, and in such instances, accurate contact information helps health teams act quickly, check in, and alert others discreetly to prevent further spread and ensure timely care.

Recent experiences, from the 2025 Ebola response to ongoing efforts to manage mpox, have shown that when health teams can reach people quickly, we can stop disease spread faster. Yet, a missing or incorrect phone number, seemingly a small detail when visiting a health facility, can become an invisible barrier, leading to delays, more infections, and tragically, preventable deaths. This is not just about records; it's about health workers being able to connect with you promptly to guide your care and safeguard your family and neighbours.

The impact of a missing phone number was powerfully demonstrated during the 2025 Ebola outbreak in Uganda. Mrs X visited a clinic with Ebola-like symptoms but was treated for other common illnesses and sent home. Unfortunately, the phone number recorded in her file was incomplete.

When another Ebola suspect emerged days later, response teams urgently tried to trace contacts, including Mrs X, but couldn’t reach her. By the time they found her through community networks, valuable time had been lost, and others, including her household, had been exposed.

This single missing number hindered health workers from promptly identifying other individuals in the community who may have been exposed to the Ebola virus—a challenge that has occurred in other similar situations as well. Likewise, in the ongoing Mpox response, missing or incorrect contact information continues to slow down efforts to follow up and support exposed individuals.

However, when accurate phone numbers are available, health workers can act quickly; calling, arranging home visits, and giving timely guidance, thus helping to contain outbreaks and protect communities.

Your role is simple but vital. Always provide your correct, active phone number when visiting any health facility and encourage others to do the same. Make it a routine, not just during outbreaks. Update your contact if it changes, and answer calls from health workers as they may carry crucial health information. This message also serves as a reminder to our dedicated health workers to prioritise capturing accurate and verified contact details during every patient visit.

A responsive health system relies on complete and correct information. The next time you are asked for your phone number at a clinic or hospital, remember the vital role it plays. That simple act of sharing your number could make all the difference for you, your family members, and your community.

The writer is a Field Epidemiology Fellow in the Uganda Public Health Fellowship Program, Ministry of Health