Solayo Africa, a health-tech company, is leveraging WhatsApp technology to build a scalable maternal healthcare ecosystem across Africa, targeting gaps in access, affordability, and service delivery.

In a statement on Friday, the firm noted that through its AI-powered chatbot, Moma, it delivers personalised maternal care support from pregnancy through postpartum and into a child’s first year, integrating clinical guidance, digital engagement, and e-commerce services into a single platform.

The startup, founded by Oladiipo Damilola (CEO/Co-founder), alongside Theresa Oyewole and George Odiana, explained, “A woman in rural Lagos opens WhatsApp and types ‘Hi Moma.’ Within seconds, she receives a response tailored to her trimester, symptoms, and questions about the pain that started last night. She has not visited the hospital this month. She may not need to. Moma, the AI companion on the other end, has tracked her pregnancy since week six.”

It stated that Solayo Africa built Moma to address millions of pregnancies across the continent, where access to timely healthcare information remains limited. The platform allows users to check symptoms, track baby development weekly, receive breastfeeding advice, and connect with human medical professionals when required.

Nigeria accounts for 28.5 per cent of all maternal deaths worldwide, according to a 2023 UN report on maternal mortality trends. A Nigerian woman faces a 1 in 19 lifetime risk of dying during pregnancy, childbirth, or the weeks that follow. In contrast, the risk drops to 1 in 4,900 in the most developed countries.

Only 43 per cent of births in Nigeria are attended by a skilled health provider. In rural Epe, Lagos State, a maternal mortality ratio of 1,645 per 100,000 live births was recorded between 2015 and 2019, with unregistered pregnancies accounting for 72 per cent of those deaths and almost 80 per cent occurring outside a health facility, according to the statement.

Eclampsia, haemorrhage, and sepsis account for most of these deaths, all of which are preventable when detected early. Solayo’s model is designed to shorten the gap between symptom recognition and medical response.

The firm noted that Moma guides expectant mothers through each week of pregnancy with stage-specific updates. “Women describe their symptoms in plain language and receive guidance on whether to monitor at home or seek clinical care. After delivery, the platform transitions to postpartum recovery and infant care, including vaccination tracking for up to 12 months,” it stated.

The company’s decision to build on WhatsApp reflects a strategic approach to market penetration in sub-Saharan Africa, where the messaging platform is widely used. Evidence from regional studies supports this approach.

A 2025 randomised controlled trial in Cameroon found that nurses moderating WhatsApp-based educational content improved antenatal care attendance. In Ghana, healthcare providers using WhatsApp during COVID-19 recorded a 5.64 per cent increase in antenatal care attendance and a 5.62 per cent rise in facility-based deliveries.

South Africa’s MomConnect programme has registered nearly 5 million mothers since 2014, while the SAFEMOM study found that AI symptom assessment reduced uncertainty in responding to symptoms by 90 per cent.

Solayo builds on this evidence by integrating additional services into its platform. Beyond information delivery, it includes a curated e-commerce marketplace for maternity products, allowing users to purchase delivery packages containing essential items for mother and child within the same WhatsApp interface.

The platform also partners with hospitals and HMOs, linking digital consultations with physical healthcare services when necessary. The founders said the integrated model reflects the realities faced by pregnant women, who must manage healthcare needs alongside sourcing delivery supplies and planning for hospital expenses.

As Damilola puts it, the company exists to close the gap between what women need to know and when they can know it. Moma’s chatbot handles thousands of routine queries daily, covering symptoms, nutrition, and infant milestones. Cases requiring clinical judgment are escalated to human professionals, providing a hybrid model that balances scale with medical oversight.

Solayo Africa’s ambition extends beyond Nigeria, with plans to expand across markets where WhatsApp adoption is high and maternal healthcare infrastructure remains limited.