Google awards Nigerian health tech firm $2.5m to deploy AI in maternal care

Nigerian health technology company, Helium Health, has secured a $2.5 million grant from Google.org to deploy artificial intelligence (AI) solutions aimed at improving maternal healthcare and reducing pregnancy-related deaths across Nigeria.

The funding will support the expansion of Helium Health’s maternal healthcare initiative, HeliumMum, across Lagos, Delta, Kano and Oyo states, with Lagos serving as the primary operational launchpad.

Helium Health emerged as the only Nigerian organisation among 15 global recipients selected for the $30 million Google.org Impact Challenge: AI for Government Innovation. The initiative supports organisations working with governments to use artificial intelligence to improve public service delivery.

Beyond the financial support, the selected organisations will participate in a dedicated Google.org Accelerator programme, gaining access to technical assistance from Google engineers and artificial intelligence experts.

Through the initiative, Helium Health plans to reach an additional 1.9 million women over three years, while contributing to a targeted 30 per cent reduction in maternal mortality.

The company’s AI-powered platform is designed to help pregnant women identify potential complications early and connect them with appropriate healthcare providers. The system will also link patients to medical facilities equipped with electronic medical records and AI-powered clinical decision support tools to assist healthcare professionals in making informed decisions.

Helium Health Chief Executive Officer, Dimeji Sofowora, said the grant would enable the company to build on its existing maternal healthcare interventions and extend access to quality medical services.

Sofowora disclosed that the company had reached more than 3.5 million women through its maternal health initiatives over the past decade.

Head of Public Health at Helium Health, Dr Shona Oluwatola, highlighted the urgency of the intervention, noting that Nigeria accounts for nearly three in every 10 maternal deaths globally.

Oluwatola said the programme would help more women recognise pregnancy-related risks and access timely medical attention, reducing preventable deaths caused by limited awareness and inadequate access to healthcare.

Global Head of Google.org, Maggie Johnson, said artificial intelligence could significantly improve public service delivery when properly deployed to address real-world challenges.

Johnson explained that the organisation’s support for the 15 selected beneficiaries combines financial grants with technical expertise from Google’s AI specialists to help translate technological innovation into practical solutions for communities.

The initiative underscores growing efforts to harness artificial intelligence in addressing critical healthcare challenges, particularly maternal mortality, which remains a major public health concern in Nigeria.