Nigerian Pharmacist, Chioma Uzoma, Wins Global SRHR Award for AI Healthcare Innovation

A Nigerian pharmacist and health innovator, Chioma Uzoma, has been honoured with the prestigious Phil Harvey Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRHR) Innovation Award at a global health conference held in Bogotá, Colombia.

The award was presented at the International Conference on Family Planning, one of the world’s foremost gatherings of experts, policymakers and organisations focused on advancing access to sexual and reproductive health services.

Uzoma was recognised for her groundbreaking work in deploying artificial intelligence to improve healthcare access for women and girls, particularly in underserved communities. Her innovation, ADA AI, a culturally sensitive chatbot designed for women’s health, stood out among global entries for its ability to bridge gaps in access to contraception, maternal health support and general reproductive care.

Reacting to the recognition, Uzoma said, “This award reinforces the importance of building solutions that are not only innovative but also culturally relevant and accessible to the women who need them most, especially in underserved communities.”

The Phil Harvey SRHR Innovation Award celebrates individuals and organisations delivering scalable solutions that address critical gaps in access, affordability and quality of healthcare. Industry stakeholders noted that Uzoma’s work exemplifies how technology can be harnessed to tackle persistent healthcare challenges in developing regions.

Through her platform at Medvax Health, Uzoma integrates telemedicine, digital triage and e-pharmacy services, enabling women to access timely and confidential care without the barriers of distance, cost or social stigma.

Nigeria continues to grapple with significant reproductive health challenges, including high maternal mortality rates and limited access to accurate health information. Uzoma’s innovation directly addresses these issues by connecting users to verified healthcare providers and facilitating access to essential medications.

Experts at the conference подчеркed the growing role of Nigerian innovators in shaping global health solutions. They emphasised that locally developed technologies are critical to addressing context-specific healthcare needs and achieving broader global health targets.

A health policy expert at the event noted, “Innovations like ADA AI demonstrate how digital health solutions from Nigeria can scale globally while addressing deeply local challenges.”

Uzoma’s recognition has also reignited calls for increased investment in Nigeria’s health-tech ecosystem, particularly in women’s health. Stakeholders are advocating stronger policy support, enhanced funding for startups, and deeper collaboration between government, private sector players and development partners.

Her achievement marks a significant milestone for Nigeria on the global stage, reinforcing the country’s growing influence in health innovation and the potential of homegrown solutions to transform healthcare delivery worldwide.