The West African Society of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (WASPEN) has tasked President Bola Tinubu, national leaders, and professional bodies to make nutrition a structured part of healthcare delivery in Nigeria.
President and Founder of WASPEN, Dr. Teresa I. Pounds, gave the advise on Monday at a press conference to launch the 2025 edition of Malnutrition Awareness Week.
Dr Pounds stressed that there is the need for collective action against the “silent epidemic” of hospital malnutrition.
According to WASPEN President and Founder, hospital malnutrition remains a critical but under-recognized challenge, with global estimates showing that one in three hospitalized patients suffer from malnutrition.
” In Nigeria, emerging data from tertiary hospitals reveal inpatient malnutrition rates between 30% and 45%, particularly among surgical, paediatric, and oncology patients”, she said.
Dr Pounds added, “Malnutrition within hospital settings undermines recovery, escalates healthcare costs, and worsens mortality—yet it remains poorly recognized and inadequately addressed”.
“The troubling statistics, including a study in Nasarawa State where 41.2% of under-five children admitted showed signs of global malnutrition, while 71.3% of hospitalized elderly patients in Enugu were found to be malnourished”.
She pointed out that this year’s campaign, themed “United Against Malnutrition”, underscores the need for global and regional collaboration to address malnutrition in both communities and healthcare facilities”.
“To bridge data gaps, WASPEN is partnering with a leading Nigerian institution to gather updated national figures on hospital malnutrition, which will inform advocacy for integrating nutrition care into Nigeria’s health strategies”.
Stressing that this year marks only the second Malnutrition Awareness Week in Nigeria, she said . The initiative has expanded significantly, with 17 institutions participating nationwide—up from seven last year—and, for the first time, the inclusion of Cameroon and Ghana.
The awareness week, running from September 8 to 12, will feature webinars on standardized clinical nutrition protocols and pathways for embedding nutrition care into healthcare systems, alongside institution-specific events across West Africa.
Acknowledging the participation of international partners from the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (ASPEN), Dr. Phil Ayers and Dr. Albert Barrocas, whose presence signals West Africa’s growing role in the global nutrition care movement.