Nigerian health technology company Helium Health has secured a $2.5 million grant from Google.org to roll out its AI-powered maternal care platform, HeliumMum, across four Nigerian states, targeting 1.9 million women over three years.
The grant will fund the deployment of the platform in Lagos, Delta, Kano and Oyo states, where it will support expectant mothers with personalised guidance, appointment reminders and risk screening. Helium Health was the only Nigerian organisation among 15 recipients of Google.org’s $30 million Impact Challenge: AI for Government Innovation.
Maternal mortality remains one of Nigeria’s most serious public health challenges, with the country accounting for a disproportionate share of global maternal deaths. Many of those deaths are preventable, caused by delays in seeking care, gaps in antenatal monitoring and a shortage of trained staff in rural areas.
What HeliumMum does
HeliumMum uses artificial intelligence to help health workers identify high-risk pregnancies earlier and to keep mothers engaged with the health system throughout pregnancy and after delivery. The platform works through the clinics and hospitals that already serve these communities, rather than replacing them.
The grant will pay for the technology rollout, training for health workers and the data infrastructure needed to track outcomes across the four states. Google.org said the project was chosen because it combines a proven technology platform with a clear plan for reaching women who are currently underserved.
Helium Health already operates one of Africa’s largest health technology platforms, with its hospital management software used by hundreds of facilities across the continent. The maternal care project builds on that footprint.
A test case for AI in public health
The project will be watched closely as a test of whether artificial intelligence can deliver measurable improvements in public health at scale in Africa. If HeliumMum reaches its target of 1.9 million women and shows a reduction in complications, it could become a model for other countries facing similar challenges.
For Nigeria, the grant is also a vote of confidence in its technology sector, which has produced a string of health and fintech companies that are now attracting international funding. The challenge, as ever, will be turning a promising pilot into a lasting part of the health system.
