The MTN Group Foundation and the Gates Foundation have introduced an artificial intelligence (AI) initiative in Nigeria to enhance maternal healthcare. This program, known as the Nigeria Maternal Health Multiplier, aims to support 500,000 women by 2030. It will equip 5,000 frontline health workers with digital tools and assist 500 health facilities in providing consistent maternal healthcare. The initiative combines AI, mobile technology, and improved connectivity to aid pregnant women, health workers, and primary healthcare facilities.
Nigeria has made progress in reducing maternal deaths over the past decade, but significant challenges remain. The country accounts for nearly 30% of all maternal deaths worldwide. Many of these deaths are preventable, but only 59% of women complete four or more antenatal care visits. This results in warning signs often going undetected until it's too late. The initiative aims to address these issues by providing timely guidance and access to trusted health information.
The program will combine three main interventions: AI-enabled, phone-based decision-support tools for pregnant women and frontline health workers, affordable smartphones and mobile data for women, and improved internet connectivity at primary healthcare facilities. These tools are expected to help health workers identify warning signs earlier and provide guidance, while giving pregnant women access to health information throughout pregnancy, childbirth, and the postnatal period.
The initiative will receive an initial investment of about $25 million between 2026 and 2030. This investment comprises direct and in-kind contributions from MTN and the Gates Foundation. The four-year partnership was announced at Semafor's Next three billion event, on the sidelines of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
The program will build on the federal government's Maternal and Neonatal Mortality Reduction Innovation Initiative (MAMII). This initiative is being implemented under the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare's Sector-Wide Approach. The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Pate, stated that the partnership would support existing health system reforms.
Key stakeholders have expressed support for the initiative. The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, noted that the initiative reflects the type of collaboration needed to apply digital transformation to public services. MTN Group President and Chief Executive Officer, Ralph Mupita, emphasized that the program would provide locally relevant health information directly to women and health professionals.
The Gates Foundation Chief Executive Officer, Mark Suzman, stressed that the benefits of AI would depend on reaching people who might otherwise be excluded from such technology. The initiative aims to put trusted, locally relevant health insights directly into the hands of mothers and healthcare professionals, tailored to their unique needs and languages.
Key points
- The initiative aims to reach 500,000 women by 2030 and equip 5,000 frontline health workers with digital tools.
- The program will combine AI-enabled decision-support tools, affordable smartphones, and improved internet connectivity to support maternal healthcare.
- The initiative will receive an initial investment of about $25 million between 2026 and 2030.
