KIGALI/Rwanda: African governments, scientific institutions, development partners and global organisations have issued a unified call for stronger climate–health intelligence systems across the continent, warning that countries will remain dangerously exposed to climate-related health risks without reliable, harmonised data. The position followed three days of high-level dialogue and technical sessions at the Standards for Official Statistics on Climate–Health Interactions (SOSCHI) Conference, held in Kigali from December 3 to 5, 2025.
Representatives from 23 countries agreed that the worsening health impacts of climate change—already visible across Africa—require integrated data collection systems capable of measuring how climate hazards affect human well-being. Most African countries currently capture climate and health data separately, a gap experts say limits their ability to quantify risk, protect vulnerable populations and anticipate emerging threats.
In a joint communiqué adopted at the close of the conference, delegates stressed that enhancing climate–health intelligence will reinforce national strategies and open new pathways for evidence-based policies, targeted interventions and effective early-warning systems. The communiqué underscored an “urgent need for more robust information on the health impacts of climate hazards to strengthen national policies and guide targeted interventions.”
Participants noted that harmonised indicators are vital for shifting from reactive responses to proactive planning. They committed to integrating the SOSCHI indicators into national statistical systems, with a focus on extreme weather events, waterborne diseases, vector-borne diseases and mental health impacts linked to climate stress.
Sustainability emerged as a central theme, with delegates emphasising that climate–health monitoring must be underpinned by long-term domestic investment rather than short-term projects. They identified civil registration and vital statistics, improved health data timeliness, and stronger environmental and meteorological monitoring as essential building blocks for durable climate–health intelligence. Enhanced data sharing and interoperability across sectors—such as environment, health and meteorology—were also highlighted as key to developing comprehensive indicators.
Technical presentations from Rwanda, Ghana and the United Kingdom demonstrated how SOSCHI-aligned data can reveal shifting vulnerabilities. Rwanda’s models showed changing malaria patterns driven by rainfall and temperature variations, while Ghana presented insights into diarrhoeal disease trends, air pollution exposure and heat-related mortality. These examples, delegates noted, underscore the power of harmonised metrics to guide national adaptation planning.
At the conclusion of the conference, participants pledged to scale up and institutionalise the SOSCHI framework and urged national statistical offices, health ministries, research bodies and funders to join in building validated climate–health metrics that can support resilience and safeguard public health.
The Kigali meeting reaffirmed Africa’s role not just as a continent facing some of the most acute climate impacts, but also as a leader in shaping global standards for climate–health action. Organisers described the collective commitment reached in Kigali as a significant step toward a safer and more resilient future for Africa.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences – Research and Innovation Centre.
