The launch./PHOTO Courtesy
African climate and health institutions have launched the continent’s first regional Climate Health Desk aimed at transforming climate and weather information into practical guidance for protecting public health.
The initiative, hosted by the African Centre of Meteorological Applications for Development (ACMAD) in Niamey, was developed in collaboration with the World Health Organization and the World Meteorological Organization under their joint Climate and Health Programme.
Officials say the new unit will help translate climate intelligence, such as forecasts of extreme heat, rainfall patterns, and drought conditions, into practical alerts and planning tools that health authorities, hospitals, and communities can use to prepare for climate-related health risks.
The desk is the first regional platform of its kind in Africa and the second launched globally under a wider international effort to strengthen links between climate science and public health systems.
The initiative is supported by philanthropic funding from the Wellcome Trust and Rockefeller Foundation.
Bridging Climate Science and Public Health
Climate experts say the new platform aims to address a longstanding gap between meteorological data and health decision-making across the continent.
“Climate change is reshaping health risks across Africa, challenging countries to stay one step ahead,” said Ousmane Ndiaye. “Our real opportunity lies in anticipation: Africa cannot afford to wait for emergencies to unfold.”
Ndiaye said the desk will strengthen collaboration between climate and health institutions, enabling leaders to use climate information to anticipate risks and act earlier to protect communities.
“With our Climate Services Expert Sandrine Wendlasida Combéré leading the Desk, we now have a dedicated point of connection building bridges between the meteorological and health community across the region,” he said.
“Climate information will directly support prevention, preparedness, and protection of people’s lives and livelihoods.”
Rising Climate-Driven Health Risks
The launch comes as African countries face increasingly frequent climate extremes including heatwaves, floods, and prolonged droughts that place growing pressure on health systems.
These environmental conditions are also influencing the spread of climate-sensitive diseases.
Shifts in rainfall and temperature patterns affect the distribution of mosquito-borne illnesses such as malaria and dengue, while dry, dusty conditions combined with heat can heighten the risk of meningitis outbreaks.
Experts say limited access to climate data tailored for health planning has historically slowed early response efforts across the region.
Turning Climate Data into Health Warnings
The Climate–Health Desk will focus on converting climate information into targeted health intelligence.
Among its key services will be the production of climate-health advisories such as heatwave bulletins and malaria-risk outlooks that can help health authorities anticipate potential outbreaks and prepare health facilities.
The platform will also support improvements to early warning systems for diseases such as meningitis by combining climate forecasts with epidemiological and environmental data.
In addition, the desk will provide training, fellowships, and technical support aimed at strengthening collaboration between meteorological services, health agencies, and research institutions across Africa.
The launch took place during a continental knowledge-sharing workshop held as part of the Africa Continental Climate Outlook Forum, a quarterly gathering that brings together climate scientists from regional climate centres, national meteorological agencies, and sectoral partners.
Organisers say the desk will also serve as a hub for partnerships with regional and international institutions, including the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention and the UK Met Office through its Weather and Climate Information Services for Africa programme.
A Growing Global Initiative
According to programme leaders, the Africa desk is part of a broader global rollout of climate–health platforms designed to strengthen research, data sharing, and early warning systems.
“The launch of the Africa Climate Health Desk marks an important milestone creating, for the first time, a regional multidisciplinary team who can innovate and strengthen authoritative information on climate risks to health,” said Joy Shumake-Guillemot.
She added that the initiative is designed to help ensure climate and health communities work more closely together.
“Ultimately, this means local leaders know what to do when severe weather warnings are issued; families know how to protect themselves from extreme heat; and health workers receive the right alerts so they can respond effectively,” Shumake-Guillemot said.
“In short: earlier warnings, better planning, clearer advice and faster local response.”
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