Google.org, the philanthropic arm of technology giant Google, has awarded $2.5 million to Nigerian health technology company Helium Health to deploy artificial intelligence solutions aimed at improving maternal healthcare across four states.
The funding, equivalent to approximately N3.4 billion, will support the introduction of AI-powered clinical tools in Lagos, Delta, Kano and Oyo states, targeting an additional 1.9 million women over the next three years.
The investment forms part of Google.org’s $30 million Impact Challenge: AI for Government Innovation, which supports organisations working with governments to improve public services through artificial intelligence.
Helium Health was selected as the only Nigerian organisation among 15 recipients worldwide.
The company will deploy the technology through HeliumMum, its maternal healthcare platform designed to identify pregnancy-related risks early and connect expectant mothers with appropriate medical services.
Lagos will serve as the primary operational centre before the programme expands across the other participating states.
The initiative will integrate electronic medical records with AI-powered clinical decision-support systems to help healthcare workers identify potential complications and make more informed treatment decisions.
It will also provide participating governments with healthcare data to identify gaps in service delivery and improve the allocation of medical resources.
Helium Health said it intends to contribute to a 30% reduction in maternal mortality through earlier identification of complications and improved access to healthcare.
The company’s Chief Executive Officer, Dimeji Sofowora, said its maternal healthcare programmes have reached more than 3.5 million women over the past decade.
According to him, the new funding will enable Helium Health to expand its existing operations and provide more women with access to quality maternal healthcare.
The implementation plan was presented to Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu during a meeting involving representatives of Google and Helium Health.
Beyond the financial support, Helium Health will participate in a dedicated accelerator programme that provides technical assistance from Google engineers and artificial intelligence specialists.
The development comes as Nigeria continues to face significant challenges in maternal healthcare delivery, particularly in communities where access to qualified medical personnel, diagnostic facilities and emergency treatment remains limited.
While artificial intelligence could improve the identification of high-risk pregnancies, its effectiveness will depend on the availability of trained healthcare workers, reliable patient records and functioning medical facilities.
The funding also represents an opportunity for Nigeria’s growing health technology industry to demonstrate how locally developed digital solutions can attract international support and address challenges in public healthcare.
However, the programme’s success will ultimately depend on measurable improvements in maternal health outcomes rather than the number of women registered on the platform.
The proposed 30% reduction in maternal mortality remains a target, with actual results dependent on implementation, clinical adoption and access to appropriate treatment.
For Helium Health, the grant provides additional resources to expand its maternal healthcare operations without relying solely on conventional venture capital financing.
It also highlights growing international interest in applying artificial intelligence to essential public services in emerging markets.