Nigerian digital health company Helium Health has secured a $2.5 million (approximately NGN 3.4 billion) grant from Google.org to integrate clinical artificial intelligence into primary maternal healthcare services.
Helium Health stands out as the sole Nigerian organization among 15 worldwide winners selected for the $30 million Google.org Impact Challenge: AI for Government Innovation, an effort designed to back civic-focused teams using technology to upgrade public services in partnership with governments.
In addition to the non-dilutive capital, the healthtech firm will join a dedicated Google.org Accelerator program, granting them technical mentorship and pro bono guidance directly from Google’s software engineers and artificial intelligence specialists.
The deployment blueprint was officially presented during a high-level briefing in Lagos with Lagos State Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu. While the program encompasses Lagos, Oyo, Kano, and Delta States, Lagos will act as the core launch hub, aligning with the state’s drive toward digital health transformation.
Dimeji Sofowora, CEO of Helium Health, stated that the company has dedicated the past ten years to building the infrastructure and alliances required to enhance African healthcare, having already supported over 3.5 million women. He highlighted that Google.org’s contribution will allow them to scale proven solutions to reach a far greater number of mothers.
Underscoring the urgency, Dr. Shona Oluwatola, Helium Health’s Head of Public Health, noted that Nigeria represents roughly 30% of maternal deaths globally. She explained that their objective is to support an additional 1.9 million women within three years, targeting a 30% drop in maternal mortality by preventing fatal outcomes through early identification of complications and seamless access to critical care.
Maggie Johnson, Global Head of Google.org, pointed out that although AI holds vast potential to elevate government operations, a gap often persists between concept and execution. She noted that providing financial backing alongside technical assistance from Google researchers allows local pioneers to deliver meaningful, positive outcomes in vulnerable communities.
Through its HeliumMum initiative, the company uses AI models to identify high-risk pregnancies early and seamlessly link patients to clinics utilizing digital health records and intelligent clinical decision-support tools, simultaneously supplying health authorities with reliable data to bolster maternal welfare programs.
