Nigerian health technology company, Helium Health, has secured a $2.5 million (approximately N3.4 billion) grant from Google.org to deploy artificial intelligence (AI) solutions aimed at improving maternal healthcare and reducing pregnancy-related deaths in Nigeria.
The funding will support the expansion of HeliumMum, the company’s maternal healthcare initiative, across Lagos, Delta, Kano and Oyo states, with Lagos serving as the primary launch location.
Google announced the grant on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, identifying Helium Health as the only Nigerian organisation among 15 global recipients selected for its $30 million Google.org Impact Challenge: AI for Government Innovation.
The initiative supports organisations developing AI-powered solutions in collaboration with governments to improve public service delivery.
In addition to the financial support, Helium Health will participate in a dedicated Google.org Accelerator programme, which will provide access to Google engineers and AI product experts to strengthen the development and deployment of its technology.
HeliumMum Targets 1.9 million Women
Under the programme, Helium Health aims to reach an additional 1.9 million women over three years and contribute to a 30 per cent reduction in maternal mortality through AI-powered clinical interventions.
Speaking on the initiative, Helium Health co-founder and Chief Executive Officer, Dimeji Sofowora, said the Google.org funding would enable the company to scale its existing maternal healthcare interventions and extend access to quality medical services.
He disclosed that Helium Health had reached more than 3.5 million women through its maternal healthcare initiatives over the past decade.
The company’s Head of Public Health, Dr Shona Oluwatola, said the intervention was particularly important given Nigeria’s disproportionate contribution to global maternal deaths.
“Nigeria accounts for nearly three in every ten maternal deaths globally. Behind every maternal death is a woman whose family expected her to come home,” she said.
Oluwatola said the programme would help women identify pregnancy complications earlier, access appropriate medical attention and improve the quality of maternal healthcare delivery.
How Helium Health Plans to Deploy AI
Through HeliumMum, Helium Health plans to introduce AI-powered tools that will help pregnant women identify potential complications and connect them with appropriate healthcare providers.
The platform will link expectant mothers to healthcare facilities equipped with electronic medical records and AI-powered clinical decision support systems.
These systems are expected to assist healthcare professionals in evaluating patients, identifying potential risks and making more informed clinical decisions.
The initiative will also provide state governments with actionable healthcare data to identify gaps in service delivery, strengthen maternal health programmes and improve the allocation of healthcare resources.
By integrating digital health infrastructure into primary healthcare delivery, the company hopes to improve access to timely and appropriate maternal care, particularly in underserved communities.
Google’s Growing Support for Nigerian Startups
The Helium Health grant represents another significant intervention by Google in Nigeria’s technology ecosystem, particularly among startups developing artificial intelligence applications.
In April 2026, Google selected four Nigerian startups for the 10th cohort of its Google for Startups Accelerator Africa programme.
The selected companies were Bani, MasteryHive AI, Regxta and Termii. The startups are applying AI and other technologies to address challenges across financial services and business operations.
Helium Health’s latest funding highlights the growing interest of international technology companies in supporting African startups using AI to address critical development challenges, including healthcare access and maternal mortality.
