The West African Society of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (WASPEN) has stepped up its advocacy against hospital and community malnutrition with the launch of Malnutrition Awareness Week 2025.
Held under the global theme “United Against Malnutrition”, the initiative is part of a broader campaign led by the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (ASPEN). It highlights the urgent need to address malnutrition as a critical public health issue.
WASPEN emphasised that access to adequate nutrition is not a privilege but a fundamental human right, calling on healthcare professionals, policymakers, and the public to unite in tackling the silent crisis affecting millions across the region.
In her keynote address during a webinar, WASPEN President and Founder, Dr. Teresa Pounds, described hospital malnutrition as a “silent epidemic” that undermines recovery, prolongs hospital stays, increases treatment costs, and in many cases, worsens mortality rates.
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She pointed out that globally, one in three hospital patients is malnourished, while in Nigeria, prevalence rates among inpatients range from 30 to 45 per cent, particularly affecting surgical, paediatric, oncology, and elderly patients.
Citing recent findings, Dr. Pounds highlighted alarming statistics, including a study in Nasarawa State, which found that 41.2 per cent of children under five were malnourished, and another in Enugu, which reported that over 70 per cent of elderly hospitalised patients were malnourished.
“These are patients whose recovery stalls not because of lack of medicine, but because of lack of proper nutrition care,” she added.
Beyond hospital settings, community malnutrition remains a pressing concern, with over 30 per cent of Nigerian children stunted and 7 per cent wasted.
Dr. Pounds emphasised that both forms of malnutrition are interconnected and must be tackled holistically, noting that progress in the community cannot be sustained without addressing nutrition care in hospitals.
“This year’s observance marks the second time Nigeria is hosting Malnutrition Awareness Week, with participation expanding from seven institutions last year to 17 this year”.
“For the first time, Ghana and Cameroon have joined the campaign, reflecting growing regional solidarity”.
“Activities scheduled include expert-led webinars focusing on standardised clinical nutrition protocols and strategies to integrate nutrition into national health frameworks, as well as institution-based events across West Africa”.
“International partners are also lending their support, with ASPEN Board Members Dr. Phil Ayers and Dr. Albert Barrocas attending the event, highlighting the importance of West Africa’s role in the global nutrition conversation”.
Dr. Pounds commended the Nigerian government and the Federal Ministry of Health for their ongoing work in addressing community malnutrition.
She expressed pride that the Ministry’s Director of Nutrition, Mrs. Ladidi Bako-Aiyegbusi, will deliver a keynote address during the week, describing it as a “clear demonstration of government partnership and commitment.”
However, she cautioned that commitment must move beyond rhetoric to policy and implementation.
“I call on Mr. President and our national leaders to prioritise hospital nutrition within Nigeria’s healthcare strategies. Patients recovering from surgery, battling cancer, or children in fragile health all rely on proper nutrition. Without it, lives remain at risk,” she urged.
By uniting governments, institutions, professionals, and communities, WASPEN hopes to ensure that hospital malnutrition no longer remains overlooked.
“Together, let us unite against malnutrition, community and hospital alike,” Dr. Pounds declared, affirming that nutrition is the foundation of health, dignity, and recovery.