A new digital health initiative aimed at improving maternal and newborn outcomes has been launched in Kano State, as eHealth Africa partners with Jacaranda Health to deploy an AI-enabled messaging platform for expectant and new mothers. The platform, known as PROMPTS (Promoting Mothers in Pregnancy and Postpartum Through SMS), delivers personalised health information directly to users’ mobile phones in both Hausa and English.

The initiative is designed to support at least 25,000 women in its initial phase by providing timely and accurate guidance throughout pregnancy and the postpartum period.

Through the SMS-based service, mothers can ask questions, receive tailored responses and access information aligned with national clinical protocols, helping them make informed decisions about their health and that of their newborns.

The rollout in Kano marks the platform’s expansion into Nigeria, building on its earlier deployment in Kenya, where it has reached millions of users.

Developers say the decision to adopt an SMS-based model was intentional, allowing the service to reach users without reliable internet access.

According to Jamil Galadanci of eHealth Africa, the challenge is not only deploying technology but ensuring that end users can effectively access and use it.

“The solution was deliberately designed as an SMS-based platform to avoid the limitations of internet access,” he said.

eHealth Africa is leading the local rollout, including stakeholder engagement, contextual adaptation and integration with healthcare facilities across Kano.

The organisation is leveraging its experience in implementing data-driven public health programmes and its partnerships within Nigeria’s health system to support adoption.

Enrollment is also being supported through the REACH (Reach Everyone with Accessible Community Healthcare) programme, which connects community-level services to digital health interventions.

Speaking at the launch, Jacaranda Health’s Nigerian representative, Ufuoma Omo-Obi, described Kano as a critical location for demonstrating impact due to its maternal health burden.

He said the collaboration offers an opportunity not only to implement the solution but also to generate insights that can inform broader health interventions.

“For both Jacaranda Health and eHealth Africa, Kano represents one of the strongest opportunities to demonstrate impact, especially given the state’s maternal health burden and the urgent need to address maternal mortality,” he said.

He added: “The fact that eHealth Africa is based here, has strong networks, is well connected with the government, and is a learning organisation makes this an important opportunity not just to implement, but also to learn and demonstrate impact.”

Kano State Commissioner for Health, Abubakar Labaran Yusuf, welcomed the initiative, describing it as a significant step towards reducing maternal mortality.

“We are committed to ensuring that no woman loses her life during pregnancy, delivery or the post-delivery period,” he said, urging families and communities to support participation in the programme.

PROMPTS is designed as a scalable, government-integrated platform that can be adapted across different regions.

Jacaranda Health, which developed the platform, provides the underlying AI technology and ongoing product innovation, while local partners such as eHealth Africa manage implementation within national health systems.

Both organisations say they will continue to monitor outcomes and refine the platform based on feedback from users, healthcare providers and policymakers.

As Nigeria continues to explore digital solutions to address public health challenges, initiatives such as PROMPTS highlight the growing role of technology in expanding access to care.

By combining artificial intelligence with widely accessible mobile technology, the programme aims to bridge information gaps and support safer pregnancies and childbirth outcomes in underserved communities.