MTN and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation have announced a strategic partnership to launch an artificial intelligence (AI) platform in Nigeria. The initiative aims to improve maternal health outcomes by connecting women, frontline health workers, and primary health-care facilities through an integrated digital ecosystem. The platform will help 500,000 women access trusted health guidance by 2030.
The partnership, announced on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, will equip 5,000 frontline health workers with tools to identify complications from pregnancy and childbirth early. Additionally, 500 health facilities will be enabled to deliver more consistent, higher-quality maternal health care. The initiative will start with an initial investment of about $25m (R406m) between 2026 and 2030.
The Nigeria Maternal Health Multiplier platform consists of three main components. The first is an AI and phone-based decision support system for health workers and mothers. The second component involves providing affordable smartphones and mobile data. The third component focuses on upgrading connectivity at health facilities. This will enable health workers to access critical information and provide better care.
MTN's CEO, Ralph Mupita, highlighted the potential of technology to make healthcare more personalized, predictive, and accessible. He emphasized that the partnership aims to demonstrate a scalable model for improving maternal and child health outcomes across Africa. The initiative builds on Nigeria's existing maternal and neonatal mortality reduction innovation initiative run by the country's health ministry.
The partnership leverages MTN's connectivity infrastructure, digital inclusion capabilities, mobile financial services, device distribution networks, and local market expertise in Nigeria. The Gates Foundation brings its knowledge and experience in maternal, newborn and child health, digital health innovation, responsible AI, and scaling. This collaboration is expected to catalyze additional funding and support future expansion into other markets.
MTN has made AI central to its Ambition 2030 strategy, which aims to unlock R30bn in value over the next three to five years. The company has committed as much as $2bn to building data centres through joint ventures and plans to turn its cellphone tower sites into "mini data centres" for AI workloads. This investment in AI is expected to drive growth and improve services.
The initiative aims to reduce maternal mortality rates in Nigeria by providing critical support to health workers and mothers. With the help of AI, health workers will be able to identify complications early, and mothers will have access to trusted health guidance. The partnership hopes to attract additional funding to expand the initiative to other markets in Africa.
Key points
- The initiative aims to help 500,000 women access trusted health guidance by 2030.
- The partnership will equip 5,000 frontline health workers with tools to identify complications from pregnancy and childbirth early.
- The initiative will enable 500 health facilities to deliver more consistent, higher-quality maternal health care.
