The West African Society of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (WASPEN) has announced its 5th Annual Clinical Nutrition Conference, a pivotal gathering aimed at addressing the “silent epidemic” of hospital malnutrition currently undermining patient recovery across Nigeria.
The conference is scheduled to take place from June 22nd to 25th, 2026, at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) in Asaba, Delta State.
In her opening address to the press through a zoom briefing, Dr. Teresa Isichei Pounds, Founder and President of WASPEN, emphasize the alarming prevalence of malnutrition within Nigerian healthcare facilities. According to data shared by the society, between 30% and 45% of patients in tertiary hospitals are malnourished upon admission, with that figure climbing to as high as 71% in some elderly wards.
Dr. Pounds underscored that malnutrition is not merely a side effect but a major driver of poor clinical outcomes.
“Hospital malnutrition is a silent epidemic,” she stated. “It is associated with longer hospital stays, increased infections, delayed wound healing, and higher mortality rates. Yet, nutrition care is still not consistently integrated into routine clinical practice.”
The conference aims to bridge the gap between policy and practice. The event will focus on three urgent priorities:
Universal Access: Ensuring all patients receive nutrition support regardless of economic status.
Clinical Safety: Standardizing interventions through evidence-based protocols.
Multidisciplinary Collaboration: Integrating physicians, pharmacists, nurses, dietitians, and policymakers to create cohesive nutrition support teams.
A significant portion of the four-day event will be dedicated to neonatal and pediatric nutrition. Recognizing that early nutrition is vital for survival and long-term development, the society has organized a specialized expert roundtable on safe parenteral nutrition for neonates in resource-limited settings.
This year’s conference marks a five-year milestone for WASPEN. Since its founding in 2019, the organization has been instrumental in establishing Nutrition Support Steering Committees at major institutions, including the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), National Hospital Abuja, and the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH) Zaria.
The event expects to host over 300 participants, including healthcare professionals, international faculty, and researchers. Partners for this year’s conference include the Delta State Government, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, and various international clinical nutrition societies.
Dr. Pounds issued a strong call to action to stakeholders: “Together, we can improve early identification and treatment of malnutrition. Together, we can build a future where every patient receives the nutrition care they need to survive, recover, and thrive.”
For more information on registration and conference details, interested participants are encouraged to engage with WASPEN through their official professional networks and the Federal Medical Centre, Asaba.
