Nigerian healthcare technology startup Helium Health has secured a $2.5 million grant from Google.org to deploy artificial intelligence (AI) solutions aimed at improving maternal healthcare delivery and reducing preventable deaths in Nigeria.
The funding will support the expansion of its HeliumMum initiative across Lagos, Delta, Kano and Oyo states, with Lagos serving as the initial launchpad.
Through the programme, the company plans to help pregnant women identify potential complications early, connect them with appropriate healthcare providers and equip medical professionals with AI-powered tools for better clinical decisions.
Helium Health also aims to reach an additional 1.9 million women over three years and contribute to a 30 per cent reduction in maternal mortality.
What is Helium Health and What Does It Do?
Founded in 2016, Helium Health is a Nigerian healthcare technology company focused on digitising hospitals and clinics through electronic medical records and hospital management software.
Its flagship Electronic Medical Records/Hospital Management Information System (EMR/HMIS) enables healthcare facilities to manage patients’ medical information digitally, including their medical histories, clinical records and treatments.
The company’s platform is designed to help healthcare professionals access relevant patient information more efficiently, improve hospital operations and support better healthcare delivery. Helium Health describes its EMR/HMIS product as the most widely used solution of its kind in West Africa.
Building on this digital healthcare infrastructure, the company is expanding its focus to artificial intelligence through HeliumMum, a maternal health initiative designed to improve pregnancy care and help healthcare providers identify complications before they become life-threatening.
Support for AI-Powered Maternal Healthcare
The $2.5 million funding comes from Google.org’s Impact Challenge: AI for Government Innovation, a $30 million initiative supporting organisations developing AI solutions to improve public service delivery. Helium Health is among 15 organisations selected globally to receive funding through the programme.
The initiative seeks to support organisations working with governments to address public challenges through technology. For Helium Health, the grant will provide resources to deploy clinical AI models that improve maternal healthcare services and strengthen the connection between pregnant women and medical facilities.
Beyond financial assistance, Helium Health will participate in a dedicated Google.org Accelerator programme, receiving technical support from Google engineers and AI product experts. The additional assistance is expected to help the company develop and implement its AI solutions more effectively.
Google.org global head Maggie Johnson said the programme was designed to support organisations with direct knowledge of the problems they are addressing.
“By equipping the 15 selected organisations with funding and pro bono support from Google’s own AI experts, we are empowering the people closest to the problem to show what is truly possible,” Johnson said.
How HeliumMum Will Use AI to Improve Pregnancy Care
HeliumMum will deploy AI-powered tools to help pregnant women identify potential complications early and connect them with appropriate healthcare providers. The platform will link women to healthcare facilities equipped with electronic medical records and AI-powered clinical decision support systems.
Through this approach, healthcare professionals will be able to access relevant patient information and receive technological assistance in assessing medical conditions, identifying possible warning signs and making better-informed clinical decisions.
The initiative is intended to improve the process of identifying women who may require additional medical attention and help connect them with facilities capable of providing appropriate care. Its integration with electronic medical records will also support the availability of relevant patient information during healthcare consultations.
Beyond individual patient care, HeliumMum will provide governments with actionable data to identify gaps in maternal healthcare services and strengthen the delivery of essential medical interventions.
The initiative’s deployment will cover Lagos, Delta, Kano and Oyo states, with Lagos serving as the main launchpad for implementation.
Nigeria’s Maternal Mortality Crisis and Helium Health’s Targets
The initiative comes amid Nigeria’s significant maternal mortality burden, with the country accounting for nearly three in every 10 maternal deaths globally, according to the article.
Maternal mortality remains a major public health concern, with complications during pregnancy and childbirth contributing to preventable deaths. Early identification of medical risks, access to appropriate healthcare facilities and timely intervention are essential to improving outcomes for pregnant women.
Helium Health aims to reach an additional 1.9 million women through the programme over three years and contribute to a 30 per cent reduction in maternal mortality.
The company has already reached more than 3.5 million women through its maternal health initiatives over the past decade.
Commenting on the human consequences of maternal deaths, Helium Health’s head of public health, Dr Shona Oluwatola said:
“Nigeria accounts for nearly three in every 10 maternal deaths globally. Behind every maternal death is a woman whose family expected her to come home.”
Her statement underscores the wider social consequences of maternal mortality, which extends beyond individual women to their children, families and communities.
Government Collaboration and the Future of Digital Healthcare
Helium Health’s initiative also highlights the growing role of technology companies in supporting public healthcare delivery through collaboration with government authorities.
By providing governments with actionable data, HeliumMum aims to help identify weaknesses in maternal healthcare services, assess where additional resources may be needed and support more informed decisions about healthcare delivery.
The integration of AI-powered clinical tools with electronic medical recods could also strengthen the availability of patient information and support healthcare professionals in managing pregnancy-related complications.
However, the programme’s success will depend on effective implementation, access to adequately equipped healthcare facilities, reliable medical information and the ability of healthcare professionals to use the technology appropriately.
The initiative ultimately seeks to demonstrate how artificial intelligence and digital healthcare infrastructure can contribute to addressing Nigeria’s maternal health challenges.
With Google.org’s financial and technical support, Helium Health is positioning HeliumMum as a technology-driven approach to improving pregnancy care, strengthening healthcare decision-making and helping prevent avoidable maternal deaths across the selected Nigerian states.
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