ENhancing Intergenerational HeAlth in Nigeria: Peripartum as Critical Life StagE for CardioVascular Health (ENHANCE-CVH)

A longstanding partnership between Washington University in St. Louis and the Parents as Teachers National Center (PATNC) has led to a National Institute of Health ENHANCE Project grant to expand PAT HEALTH internationally to Abuja, Nigeria with new partners from the University of Abuja and New York University. PAT HEALTH is an initiative that aims to help combat maternal morbidity and mortality through addressing cardiovascular health.

Nigeria has high rates of maternal morbidity and mortality, and the NIH grant allows the partnership to focus on integrating diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular health into their work outside the U.S. A team of PATNC staff involved in the initiative visited with the project team and community partners in Abuja to tour the primary care facilities that will implement the program.

They also participated in a stakeholder meeting and trained 14 individuals who will train Community Health Extension Workers to deliver PAT HEALTH. Over the last year, extensive work has been underway to adapt Parents as Teachers HEALTH and develop trainers and supervisors that will be supporting the implementation in Abuja. Training for the Community Health Extension Workers will begin early in 2025 and the project will continue through 2028.