Ministry Approves eHealth Africa’s Climate Assessment Tool

Federal Ministry of Health has approved the adoption of eHealth Africa’s Climate Health Vulnerability Assessment Tool (CHAT) to support climate and health vulnerability assessments in Nigeria.

In a related milestone, CHAT has also been approved for inclusion in the DHIS2 App Hub, reinforcing the tool’s interoperability and alignment with global digital health standards.

The approvals mark an important step toward integrating climate risk assessment into routine health system planning and strengthening Nigeria’s efforts to build climate-resilient primary healthcare systems.

A statement issued by senior coordinator, Communications, eHealth Africa, Moshood Isah, said climate-related events, including flooding, extreme heat, disease outbreaks, and environmental disruptions, increasingly affect healthcare delivery across vulnerable communities.

Developed by eHealth Africa, CHAT is a digital solution designed to help governments, stakeholders, and healthcare facilities assess vulnerabilities to climate change and strengthen preparedness for climate-related health risks. The tool aligns with the World Health Organization’s Checklists to Assess Vulnerabilities in Health Care Facilities in the Context of Climate Change and is designed for interoperability with DHIS2, the world’s largest health information management platform.

CHAT supports healthcare facilities to generate reliable and actionable data for climate adaptation planning while reducing reliance on paper-based assessments.

The tool enhances preparedness against climate-related disruptions and helps facilities maintain continuity of essential health services.

The tool has already been piloted in 52 healthcare facilities across five Nigerian states, namely, Borno, Kano, Sokoto, Niger, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The Federal Ministry of Health’s approval followed a detailed technical briefing and live demonstration of the CHAT platform to ministry stakeholders in Abuja.

Separately, CHAT also underwent an independent technical review and compliance assessment process for inclusion in the DHIS2 App Hub.

In an official letter signed by Dr. Charles Nzelu, Director of Public Health, on behalf of the Permanent Secretary, the Ministry commended eHealth Africa’s contribution toward strengthening climate-resilient health systems in Nigeria and approved the adoption of the CHAT platform for Climate and Health Vulnerability and Adaptation (V&A) assessments.

Following a separate technical review process, DHIS2 confirmed that CHAT successfully met all functional and interoperability requirements for inclusion in the DHIS2 App Hub after comprehensive end-to-end testing.

Speaking on the milestone, Executive Director of eHealth Africa, Atef Fawaz, said the approvals demonstrate the growing importance of interoperable digital solutions in strengthening health system resilience. “Climate change is already affecting the resilience and continuity of health services across Africa. Integrating climate intelligence into health system planning is no longer optional; it is essential,” said Fawaz.

He added: “The approval of CHAT by the Federal Ministry of Health and its inclusion in the DHIS2 App Hub demonstrate the growing importance of interoperable digital tools that support evidence-based climate adaptation in healthcare. We look forward to continued collaboration with the Ministry and other stakeholders to expand field testing and strengthen climate-resilient primary healthcare delivery across Nigeria.”

As implementation expands, CHAT is expected to strengthen climate adaptation planning at national and subnational levels by helping primary healthcare facilities identify risks early, design responsive interventions, and improve preparedness before climate-related crises occur.

The approvals also position Nigeria among countries advancing digital approaches to climate-resilient health system planning and reinforce the role of locally developed innovation in addressing emerging public health challenges.