GOOGLE.ORG GRANTS $2.5M TO HELIUM HEALTH FOR AI-POWERED MATERNAL CARE

Google.org has awarded Nigerian health technology company, Helium Health, a $2.5 million (approximately ₦3.4 billion) grant to deploy artificial intelligence (AI) solutions aimed at improving maternal healthcare and reducing preventable pregnancy-related deaths in Nigeria.

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

Helium Health was selected as the only Nigerian organisation among 15 global beneficiaries of the $30 million Google.org Impact Challenge: AI for Government Innovation. The programme supports organisations using artificial intelligence to improve public services through partnerships with government institutions.

The initiative will deploy AI-powered clinical tools to help pregnant women identify potential health complications early and connect them with appropriate medical care. Healthcare providers will also have access to electronic medical records and AI-powered clinical decision-support systems to improve patient monitoring and clinical decision-making.

According to Helium Health's Head of Public Health, Dr Shona Oluwatola, the programme aims to reach an additional 1.9 million women over three years and contribute to a 30 per cent reduction in maternal mortality.

She highlighted Nigeria's significant maternal health burden, noting that the country accounts for nearly three in every 10 maternal deaths worldwide.

The company's Chief Executive Officer, Dimeji Sofowora, said the grant would enable Helium Health to expand its existing interventions, which have already reached more than 3.5 million women.

Google.org's Global Head, Maggie Johnson, explained that the funding would be accompanied by technical support from Google engineers and AI product experts through a dedicated accelerator programme.

The initiative also aims to provide government authorities with useful healthcare data to identify service gaps, strengthen primary healthcare facilities and improve maternal health planning.

The partnership represents a growing effort to apply artificial intelligence to Nigeria's healthcare challenges.

With maternal mortality remaining a major public health concern, the success of the programme could demonstrate how technology, stronger healthcare systems and early medical intervention can work together to save lives.