Early warning systems for climate-sensitive health risks: experiences from Africa and Asia

DHIS2 for Climate & Health strengthens national health systems by integrating climate and environmental data into country-owned DHIS2 platform – the health information backbone in most low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The initiative provides open-source tools that enable forecasting and analysis of climate-sensitive health impacts, supporting data-driven adaptation and public health decisions. The DHIS2 Climate App harmonises spatial and temporal data across health and climate systems, while the CHAP Modeling Platform allows users to design and share AI-powered models for disease forecasting, extreme weather early warning, and health impact analysis. The project currently spans ten exemplar countries in Africa and Asia. 

Success has been driven by the HISP participatory approach, combining global coordination with strong local ownership. Iterative system design is guided by direct collaboration between national health ministries, meteorological agencies, and local HISP groups. Regular engagement between these partners and the University of Oslo’s global team ensures that tools meet local needs while maintaining global applicability. This networked model facilitates knowledge exchange and rapid innovation, addressing long-standing challenges such as data harmonisation and siloed modeling systems. The emphasis on capacity building and open access underpins scalability and sustainability across diverse contexts. 

Implementation of this initiative requires firm grounding in national and local needs, aligned with existing policies and priorities, and carried out in collaboration with health and environmental stakeholders. Although DHIS2 tools and resources are public and open-source, the feasibility of specific climate and health use cases largely depends on the availability and quality of relevant datasets, which vary considerably across countries. Connecting with experts and collaborating with already existing network of countries for technical exchange and knowledge sharing enhances collective learning and enables continuous improvement and adaptation.