WASPEN urges govts to prioritise hospital malnutrition

By Bianca Iboma-Emefu

The West African Society of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (WASPEN) has urged federal and state health ministries to standardize clinical nutrition guidelines and ensure nutrition products are affordable and accessible.

Speaking at a press conference ahead of WASPEN’s Clinical Nutrition Conference, scheduled for June, its president, Dr. Teresa Pounds, emphasied the need for urgent action: “Mandatory nutrition screening protocols and multidisciplinary hospital nutrition committees are crucial for addressing hospital malnutrition.

“Inadequate nutritional support leads to longer hospital stays, increased complications, higher mortality rates, and preventable deaths.

“Hospital malnutrition is often overlooked, yet it has devastating effects on patient recovery and healthcare costs. Patients with chronic illnesses, post-surgical conditions, and those in critical care are most vulnerable.

“Beyond hospitals, millions of Nigerians face under-nutrition, food insecurity, and poor dietary habits, worsening public health outcomes reason WASPEN is advocating for early intervention, nutrition screening, and policy-driven solutions to combat this crisis.”

Describing the upcoming conference as a major step in tackling malnutrition in hospitals and communities, Pounds stressed that nutrition must be seen as a fundamental part of healthcare, not an afterthought.

The event, themed “Bridging the Gap: Integrating Hospital and Community Malnutrition Care in Developing Countries,” will bring together medical professionals, policymakers, researchers, and industry experts to develop solutions for malnutrition in Nigeria and West Africa.

Chief Medical Director, National Hospital, Abuja, Professor Muhammad Raji Mahmud, represented by Clara Adesola, reinforced the urgency of the issue:

“Malnutrition affects many hospitalized patients, impacting their recovery. Cases are prevalent in paediatrics, neonatal wards, and ICUs. Nigeria, as a developing country, urgently needs structured malnutrition care programs.”

He also noted that while Nigeria lacks comprehensive national data, global estimates indicate that 20 per cent to 50 per cent of hospitalised patients suffer from malnutrition, with United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) reported that two million Nigerian children face severe acute malnutrition.

Discussions will focus on developing national nutrition policies, expanding hospital nutrition programs, and strengthening research initiatives to combat malnutrition.

Former National Agency for Food Drugs and Administration Control (NAFDAC) Director and WASPEN board member, Dr. Monica Eimunjeze, said the conference would serve as a platform for urgent reforms in clinical nutrition, policy-making and healthcare management.