Google has awarded Nigerian health technology company, Helium Health, a $2.5 million grant to deploy artificial intelligence (AI) tools aimed at improving maternal healthcare and reducing maternal deaths in Nigeria.
Helium Health was the only Nigerian organisation among 15 global recipients selected for the $30 million Google.org Impact Challenge: AI for Government Innovation, an initiative supporting technology-driven solutions to improve public services.
The project was unveiled in Lagos during an executive briefing with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, attended by executives of Google and Helium Health.
The initiative will be implemented in Lagos, Delta, Kano and Oyo states, with Lagos serving as its primary launch location.
Speaking on the grant, Helium Health Chief Executive Officer, Dimeji Sofowora, said the company had spent the past decade developing technology and partnerships to improve healthcare delivery across Africa.
He disclosed that the company’s maternal health initiatives had already reached more than 3.5 million women, adding that the grant would enable it to expand its interventions and reach more women with quality healthcare services.
The company’s Head of Public Health, Dr Shona Oluwatola, said the project targets an additional 1.9 million women over three years and aims to contribute to a 30 per cent reduction in maternal mortality.
She noted that Nigeria accounts for nearly three in every 10 maternal deaths globally, stressing the need for early identification of pregnancy-related risks and timely access to medical care.
The project will deploy Helium Health’s HeliumMum platform to help pregnant women identify potential health complications early and connect with appropriate healthcare providers.
The platform will integrate electronic medical records and AI-powered clinical decision-support tools, while providing governments with data to improve maternal health policies and service delivery.
Meanwhile, Google.org Global Head, Maggie Johnson, said artificial intelligence had significant potential to improve public services, but stressed the need to translate its capabilities into practical solutions.
She said the selected organisations would receive funding and technical support from Google’s engineers and AI experts through an accelerator programme to develop solutions addressing challenges in their communities.
Johnson added that the initiative was designed to ensure that artificial intelligence delivers tangible benefits to people around the world.