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Helium Health, a Nigerian digital health company, has received $2.5 million funding from Google.org to deploy clinical AI models in primary maternal healthcare.
The company is one of 15 global recipients in the $30 million Google.org Impact Challenge: AI for Government Innovation, which backs organisations that work with governments to improve public services. The amount awarded to Helium Health was not disclosed.
The company presented its Nigerian rollout plan in Lagos on 4 November during a joint briefing with Lagos State Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, led by executives from Google and Helium Health.
“For the past decade, Helium Health has been building the technology and partnerships needed to improve healthcare delivery across Africa. Through our maternal health initiatives, we’ve already reached over 3.5 million women, and Google.org’s support allows us to build on that foundation, scale what works, and reach even more women with quality maternal healthcare,” said Dimeji Sofowora, CEO of Helium Health.
Founded by Goke Olubusi, Dimeji Sofowora and Ralph Oluwole, Helium Health builds digital tools that connect healthcare providers, patients and governments across Africa. Its nonprofit arm, HeliumCARES, runs public health programmes, research and partnerships in underserved communities.
The company’s maternal health product, HeliumMum, uses AI to help pregnant women spot pregnancy risks early and get the right care. It links women to providers that use electronic medical records and AI-powered clinical decision support. It also gives governments data to improve maternal health services.
“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. Our goal is to reach an additional 1.9 million women over three years and contribute to a 30% reduction in maternal mortality. Ultimately, we want to ensure that no woman loses her life simply because she didn’t know she was at risk or couldn’t access the care she needed,” said Dr Shona Oluwatola, Head of Public Health at Helium Health.
Google.org is the philanthropic arm of Google, set up in 2005. It gives grants and funding to nonprofits, social enterprises and research groups working on problems such as health, education, climate and economic opportunity. It also sends Google employees to work with grantees for free, which Google calls pro bono support.
“AI holds incredible potential to transform public services, but there is often a gap between promise and practice. 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. Together, we can ensure that AI makes a profound, positive difference in the everyday lives of communities worldwide,” said Maggie Johnson, Global Head of Google.org
The funding will go towards deploying clinical AI models in primary maternal healthcare across Lagos, Delta, Kano and Oyo States, with Lagos as the main launch base. The rollout fits the state’s plan to modernise primary healthcare.
Helium Health aims to reach 1.9 million more women over three years and contribute to a 30% fall in maternal mortality. The 15 recipients will also join a Google.org Accelerator, where Google engineers and AI product experts will support their work.
