MTN Group Foundation and the Gates Foundation have launched the Nigeria Maternal Health Multiplier, a digital initiative aimed at improving maternal health outcomes and expanding access to quality care. By 2030, the four-year partnership seeks to help 500,000 women access trusted health guidance, equip 5,000 frontline health workers with tools to identify pregnancy and childbirth complications early, and support 500 health facilities to deliver more consistent maternal healthcare.
The platform will combine AI-enabled, phone-based decision-support tools for mothers and frontline health workers with affordable smartphones, mobile data and improved connectivity at primary healthcare facilities. The initiative is designed to complement Nigeria’s existing maternal and child health reforms, including the Maternal and Neonatal Mortality Reduction Innovation Initiative (MAMII), with a particular focus on underserved communities. Nigeria was selected as the first implementation market due to its significant maternal health burden, accounting for nearly 30% of maternal deaths globally.
The partnership, announced on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York, involves an initial investment of about US$25 million from MTN and the Gates Foundation between 2026 and 2030, including direct and in-kind contributions. MTN will contribute its connectivity, digital inclusion, device distribution and mobile financial services capabilities, while the Gates Foundation will provide expertise in maternal health, digital health, responsible AI and evidence-based scale-up. The partners say the initiative is intended to demonstrate a scalable model that could eventually be expanded to other African markets.
Source : www.mtn.com
