Artificial intelligence for climate–health early warning systems in the Horn of Africa
Opportunities, challenges, and a roadmap for action
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 24021138 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Ahmed Abdiaziz Alasow (0000-0002-9888-6131, Universiti Putra Malaysia), Yusuf Hared Abdi (0009-0002-7224-2247, Hormuud University, corresponding author), Abdifatah Ahmed Hersi (Hormuud University), Maxwell Boakye (0000-0001-5084-9457, Alberta Environment and Protected Areas) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Volume | 22 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Publication date | 2026-08-08 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Globalization and Health (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1744-8603 • E-ISSN: 1744-8603 |
| Publisher | BioMed Central (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1186/s12992-026-01233-9 |
| PMID | 42571005 |
| OpenAlex | W7201981906 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 37 |
Climate extremes, conflict, and population displacement converge in the Horn of Africa to accelerate outbreaks of climate-sensitive infectious diseases, whereas existing health surveillance systems remain fragmented and largely reactive. This Perspective examines the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) to strengthen climate–health early warning by integrating satellite earth observations, routine disease surveillance, and mobility-based vulnerability indicators into anticipatory decision support systems. Drawing on global experience and region-specific constraints, we identified critical barriers to implementation, including data fragmentation, infrastructure gaps, workforce shortages, governance silos, and unresolved ethical risks. We propose a five-layer conceptual framework for an AI-enabled Climate–Health Early Warning System (CHEWS) tailored to fragile and conflict-affected settings, alongside a phased regional policy roadmap anchored within the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD). Emphasizing data sovereignty, participatory governance, and privacy-by-design, this study positions AI-CHEWS as a feasible pathway for shifting the region from reactive outbreak responses to anticipatory public health actions that enhance climate resilience and equity. Clinical Trial Number: The authors declare that they have no competing interests.
Citizen journalism · Corporate governance · Early warning system · Population · Public health · Resilience (materials science) · Risk Governance · Vulnerability (computing) · Warning system · Data-Driven Disease Surveillance · Viral Infections and Outbreaks Research · Zoonotic diseases and public health
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| Highly cited | No |
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