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, worth approximately ₦3.4 billion, will support the expansion of HeliumMum, the company’s maternal healthcare initiative, which uses AI-powered tools to identify pregnancy risks early and connect expectant mothers with appropriate medical services.
Announced on November 4, 2026, the grant makes Helium Health the only Nigerian organisation selected among 15 global recipients of Google.org’s $30 million Impact Challenge: AI for Government Innovation. The programme supports organisations using technology to improve public services through partnerships with governments.
The initiative will initially operate in Lagos, before expanding to Delta, Kano and Oyo states. Lagos will serve as the primary operational launchpad for the programme.
Through HeliumMum, Helium Health plans to use artificial intelligence to help healthcare workers identify potential complications during pregnancy and ensure women receive appropriate attention before conditions become critical.
The platform will connect pregnant women with healthcare facilities equipped with electronic medical records and AI-powered clinical decision-support systems. These tools are expected to help medical professionals assess patient information, identify warning signs and make more informed clinical decisions.
The programme will also provide government authorities with actionable healthcare data to identify gaps in maternal services and improve the delivery of primary healthcare.
According to the company’s announcement, Helium Health aims to reach an additional 1.9 million women over three years and contribute to a 30 per cent reduction in maternal mortality.
The company says its existing maternal health initiatives have already reached more than 3.5 million women over the past decade.
The investment comes as Nigeria continues to face significant challenges in maternal healthcare, including limited access to quality medical facilities, inadequate healthcare infrastructure and delays in identifying pregnancy complications.
Helium Health’s Head of Public Health, Dr Shona Oluwatola, noted that Nigeria accounts for nearly three in every ten maternal deaths globally, highlighting the urgency of improving access to timely and effective medical attention.
For the company, combining AI with existing healthcare infrastructure offers an opportunity to strengthen early risk detection and improve connections between pregnant women and medical professionals.
Beyond the financial support, Helium Health will participate in a dedicated Google.org Accelerator programme, receiving technical assistance from Google engineers and AI product specialists.
Google.org Global Head Maggie Johnson said the initiative is designed to help organisations translate artificial intelligence’s potential into practical solutions that improve everyday public services.
The partnership also reflects growing interest in applying AI to healthcare challenges across emerging markets, where limited resources and uneven access to medical services continue to affect patient outcomes.
For Helium Health, the grant represents an opportunity to expand beyond hospital digitisation into AI-powered public health delivery.
However, achieving the programme’s targets will depend on effective implementation, reliable healthcare infrastructure, trained medical personnel, patient data protection and cooperation with state governments.
AI cannot independently replace medical professionals or solve shortages of healthcare facilities. Its value will depend on how effectively it supports existing medical services and helps patients receive timely treatment.
The partnership demonstrates how philanthropic funding and technology can support efforts to strengthen Africa’s healthcare systems. If successfully implemented, HeliumMum could provide a model for using AI to improve maternal healthcare access and reduce preventable pregnancy-related deaths across Nigeria.
Leave a Reply