The MTN Group Foundation and the Gates Foundation have started an artificial intelligence (AI) project in Nigeria. This project is aimed at helping health workers spot pregnancy and childbirth problems early. It will also give women access to important maternal health information.
The Nigeria Maternal Health Multiplier plans to help 500,000 women by 2030. It will equip 5,000 health workers with digital tools and support 500 health facilities to improve maternal healthcare.
The initiative will use AI, mobile technology, and better internet access to assist pregnant women, health workers, and primary healthcare centers.
MTN Group will get about $25 million in total from 2026 to 2030. This money will come from both MTN and the Gates Foundation, including direct funding and in-kind support.
Maternal Health in Nigeria
Nigeria has made some progress in lowering maternal deaths in the last ten years, but many challenges still exist. Worldwide, maternal deaths have dropped by 40 percent since 2000. But progress has slowed down, and the risk of dying during childbirth in sub-Saharan Africa is still about 250 times higher than in Western Europe.
"While Nigeria has made real progress in reducing maternal deaths over the past decade, a large burden remains to be addressed: The country accounts for nearly 30 percent of all maternal deaths worldwide," the statement said.
Many of these deaths are preventable. But only 59 percent of women complete four or more antenatal care visits. This means warning signs often go unnoticed until it’s too late.
The statement added, "Both the scale of that challenge and the urgency it represents are why Nigeria was selected as the first market for implementation of the Maternal Health Multiplier."
How the programme will work
The initiative will use three main methods: AI-enabled, phone-based decision-support tools for pregnant women and health workers, affordable smartphones and mobile data for women, and better internet at primary healthcare centers.
These tools will help health workers spot warning signs sooner and give timely advice. Pregnant women will also get access to reliable health information throughout pregnancy, childbirth, and after delivery.
MTN mentioned that the program will build on the federal government’s Maternal and Neonatal Mortality Reduction Innovation Initiative (MAMII). This initiative is being carried out under the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare’s Sector-Wide Approach.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Pate, said this partnership will help ongoing health system reforms. "Partnerships that work with our existing health systems, rather than around them, are exactly what’s needed to reach mothers who are still falling through the cracks," Mr Pate was quoted as saying.
Looking beyond technology
MTN Group President and CEO, Ralph Mupita, stated that the program will provide relevant health information directly to women and health professionals. "As artificial intelligence evolves, we can put trusted, locally relevant health insights directly into the hands of mothers and healthcare professionals, tailored to their unique needs and languages," Mr Mupita said.
Gates Foundation CEO, Mark Suzman, emphasized that the advantages of AI will only matter if we reach people who might not usually have access to such technology. "AI has enormous potential to improve health, but only if its benefits reach the people who stand to gain the most," Mr Suzman said.
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