After her mother died of colon cancer in 2016, Dr. Abi Fapohunda wanted to use her training and background to focus on early detection.

“I knew I had to give back and do something,” said Fapohunda, an assistant professor at the University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health.

Fapohunda focused her efforts on her home country of Nigeria. With a population of over 230 million people, Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa.

According to Fapohunda, the “big four” cancers – breast, cervical, colon and prostate – are the most common cancers in Nigeria. And in sub-Saharan Africa (sub-Saharan Africa), cancer is the fifth leading cause of death.

After surveying health workers, Fapohunda found that cancer awareness was inadequate, access to services was limited, and there was a lack of oncologists, appropriate facilities, awareness and education.

“People are very vulnerable,” Fapohunda said, adding that some people often forgo cancer treatment because of their religious or cultural beliefs.

In February 2019, Fapohunda conducted a face-to-face training in Lagos, Nigeria, to educate health workers on cancer treatment and referral. The first training was a success, with 114 participants.

But when the Covid pandemic hit, Fapohunda had to rethink things. In August 2022, with funding from a Rotary Global Grant from the Monroeville Rotary, Fapohunda and her team in Lagos hired a developer, created content, and developed a curriculum. Pitt students volunteered to help.

“I worked with the Lakeshore Cancer Center in Nigeria where we developed an e-learning training program on cancer awareness, diagnosis and treatment for Nigerian health professionals,” said Fapohunda.

“We put together a whole team. We had to run pilot tests, add graphics, and respond to learner feedback… it took about six months to complete.”

The team launched “Learn with Lakeshore” in July 2023. The four-week curriculum is aimed at doctors, nurses, pharmacists, laboratory technicians and community health workers.

“The aim of the online course is to improve the knowledge and competence of health care providers in the areas of early diagnosis, screening techniques and patient referral,” said Fapohunda.

During a presentation to the Rotary Club of Monroeville last month, Fapohunda updated members on the program’s progress.

Since the launch of Learn with Lakeshore, the team has managed six learning groups, issued 83 certificates, registered 286 users and reached 26 of Nigeria’s 36 states. A total of 121 learners have completed the course and the student participation rate was 86%.

“It takes a lot of coordination to have the team here in Monroeville and in Lagos,” Fapohunda said, adding that the entire team met virtually every Friday for two hours for 18 months to prepare and identify their strengths and weaknesses.

During her presentation, Fapohunda praised the Monroeville Rotary Club and especially Susan Delaney and Gerry Maynard for their support.

“Susan planted the seed in my heart, which in turn planted a seed in Nigeria,” Fapohunda said.

Maynard said Fapohunda was able to secure funding so quickly because of her competency in completing the grant application.

“It’s a tedious process,” Maynard said. “Abi worked on the application so thoroughly that it was approved within six weeks.”

Fapohunda’s future goals include reaching all 36 states in Nigeria and collaborating with nursing and pharmacy schools.

Fapohunda received the 2023–24 Global Academic Partnership Award from Pitt’s Global Studies Center for organizing the transnational student-led initiative Global TEACH.

The team consists of eight students from Babcock University in Nigeria, seven from the University of Pittsburgh main campus, and eight students from Pitt Johnstown. The students will learn about cancer treatment, build awareness, and propose practical solutions in both the Appalachian regions of the United States and Nigeria.

“In the United States, there is a higher cancer rate and a higher death rate in the Appalachian region,” Fapohunda said. “The question is how do we come together now and address the problem?”

In addition to the Monroeville Rotary Club, Fapohunda serves on the Board of Trustees of Foundation Cancer Care, Lagos, Nigeria, the American Public Health Association, and the Board of Directors of East Liberty Family Health Care Center.

In 1985, Fapohunda received a diploma in hotel and restaurant management from Norwich City College in England. In 1992, she earned a master’s degree in food and nutrition from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

Fapohunda then earned a master’s and doctorate in epidemiology from the University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health.

She teaches undergraduate and graduate courses on African American health, social determinants of health, health disparities/injustices, global health, and research methods and interventions in minority communities.

In 2024, Fapohunda received the Provost Award for Diversity in the Curriculum from the University of Pittsburgh.

In addition, Fapohunda has been running a public health consulting business for more than twenty years, conducting needs assessments, qualitative and quantitative analyses, and assessing the effectiveness of programs.

“My education, studies, community involvement and professional experience have significantly influenced my teaching and research interests,” added Fapohunda.