By Edward Samuel, Abuja
The West African Society of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition, WASPEN, has called on the federal government to establish a multi-sectoral national task force dedicated to addressing hospital malnutrition in Nigeria.
This call was made by Dr. Teresa Pounds, Founder and President of WASPEN, during a virtual media briefing ahead of the 2025 WASPEN Clinical Nutrition Conference scheduled to hold in Abuja in partnership with National Hospital.
Dr. Pounds described hospital malnutrition as a distinct and pressing health challenge, often resulting from illness, inadequate food intake, and the hospital environment itself.
She noted that prevalence rates range between 20% and 50%, posing a significant threat to patient recovery and overall health outcomes.
“The theme of our conference, ‘Bridging the Gap: Integrating Hospital and Community Malnutrition Care in Developing Countries,’ reflects our concern with the disconnect in nutrition care between hospital settings and communities,” she said.
Dr. Pounds emphasized that early detection of malnutrition among hospitalized patients can save lives, especially among vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly, and critically ill patients.
She advocated for strengthened nutrition education and training among healthcare professionals and medical students.
Highlighting the need for a multidisciplinary strategy, she said combating hospital malnutrition requires collaboration among health workers, policymakers, nutrition experts, and industry stakeholders.
“WASPEN remains committed to improving clinical nutrition in West Africa through education, research, advocacy, and evidence-based practices to expand access to nutrition support across the region.” She added.