Abuja, Nigeria – The West African Society of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (WASPEN) is set to host its highly anticipated Clinical Nutrition Conference from June 17 to June 19, 2025, at the National Hospital, Abuja. At a Zoom press conference ahead of the event, WASPEN President and founder Dr. Teresa Pounds emphasized the urgency of addressing hospital and community malnutrition, a widespread yet often overlooked crisis in Nigeria’s healthcare system.
She noted that malnutrition is a silent crisis in hospitals speaking at the event, Dr Pounds said “the devastating impact of malnutrition on patients, particularly those with chronic illnesses, surgical conditions, and critical care needs. Without adequate nutritional support, these patients experience longer hospital stays, increased complications, and higher mortality rates. The conference will push for clinical nutrition interventions to become a core component of healthcare practice across Nigeria and West Africa”.
Speaking further, Dr Pounds remarked that as part of its long-term vision, WASPEN is working to establish interdisciplinary steering committees in major institutions to advance clinical nutrition advocacy and intervention. Following initial groundwork at Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), the society is launching a multi-centered study to assess malnutrition prevalence in tertiary institutions.
The upcoming conference which is themed“Bridging the Gap: Integrating Hospital and Community Malnutrition Care in Developing Countries,” the conference builds on the success of Malnutrition Awareness Week, previously held in collaboration with the American Society of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (ASPEN). The event will feature distinguished speakers, including:
Prof. Ali Pate – Coordinating Minister of Health (Special Guest of Honor)
Prof. Muhammad Raji Mahmud – Chief Medical Director, National Hospital Abuja (Host)
Prof. Audu Bala – President, Nigerian Medical Association (Keynote Address)
Prof. Cyril Usifoh – Former President, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (Chairman)
Prof. Chinedum Babalola – Former VC, Chrisland University (Special Guest Speaker)
Tajudeen Olutope Ahmed – National President, Institute of Dietetics in Nigeria (Keynote Speaker)
Pharm Ibrahim Tanko Ayuba – President, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (Guest of Honor)
Prof. Salisu Maiwada Abubaka – President, Nutrition Society of Nigeria (Guest of Honor)
Comrade Haruna Mamman – President, National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (Guest of Honor)
For the first time, the event will include a Pre-Conference Workshop in collaboration with Nutro Industrial Brazil, featuring global experts such as Prof. Paulo Vasconcelos (Brazil) and Dr. Akhigbe Evelyn. The workshop will provide practical training on:
✅ Enteral nutrition techniques and complications
✅ Multidisciplinary roles in nutrition support
✅ Safe and effective feeding tube placement
✅ Transitioning patients to home enteral nutrition
WASPEN is calling on government agencies, hospitals, research institutions, and the private sector to prioritize hospital malnutrition as a critical healthcare issue. Specific recommendations include:
Federal and State Ministries of Health – To integrate clinical nutrition policies and guidelines into healthcare systems.
Hospitals – To implement mandatory nutrition screening and establish nutrition steering committees.
Pharmaceutical and Nutrition Companies – To invest in local production of affordable nutritional products.
NAFDAC & NPHCDA – To regulate nutrition interventions and expand community-level programs.
WASPEN invites healthcare professionals, researchers, policymakers, and industry leaders to participate in the 2025 Clinical Nutrition Conference. With a focus on actionable solutions, the event aims to shape the future of nutrition care in Nigeria and beyond.
Participants at the conference included the CMD of the National hospital Abuja Prof Prof. Muhammad Raji Mahmud, ably represented by Dr Adesola, Pham Clara Adesola Chair of the local organizing committee and the management of Genrith Pharmaceuticals Limited, led by the CEO chief Emmanuel Umenwa.
