In a passionate and far-reaching address at the West African Society of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (WASPEN) 2025 press conference, Founder and President Dr. Teresa Isichei Pounds officially unveiled plans for the upcoming WASPEN 2025 Clinical Nutrition Conference, calling it a “landmark event” for the future of nutritional care across West Africa.
Welcoming journalists, healthcare professionals, and stakeholders at the event, Dr. Pounds described the forthcoming conference — slated for June 17–19, 2025, in collaboration with the National Hospital Abuja — as a rallying point for tackling the “urgent and often overlooked” crisis of malnutrition in hospitals and communities alike.
“Malnutrition is preventable,” she declared. “It is time we treat it not as an afterthought, but as a central health and human rights issue.”
Founded to improve clinical nutrition care across West Africa, WASPEN has grown into a multidisciplinary force comprising doctors, nurses, dietitians, pharmacists, researchers, and policy experts. The society’s mission, as outlined by Dr. Pounds, is rooted in early diagnosis, timely intervention, and equitable access to nutrition support — all driven by evidence-based practice and cross-sector collaboration.
“Our vision is clear: a West African region where malnutrition and its effects no longer exist,” she emphasized.
Themed “Bridging the Gap: Integrating Hospital and Community Malnutrition Care in Developing Countries,” this year’s WASPEN Conference aims to address the disconnect between nutrition care in hospital settings and what is sustained in communities — a gap that continues to threaten the lives of vulnerable populations.
The event promises a truly multidisciplinary platform, featuring representatives from top medical, pharmaceutical, and nutrition bodies, including the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives, and the Nutrition Society of Nigeria (NSN), among others.
Participants will engage in:
Keynote speeches, expert panels, and poster sessions
Clinical case studies and product showcases
The inauguration of the Nutrition Steering Committee at the National Hospital Abuja
Notable speakers include Prof. Muhammad Raji Mahmud, CMD of National Hospital Abuja and host of the event; Prof. Cyril Usifoh, Chairman of the Ceremony; Prof. Audu Bala, delivering the keynote address; and Dr. Felix Alakaloko, highlighting Lagos University Teaching Hospital’s nutrition support strides.
Forward-looking topics such as AI in clinical nutrition and local production reform will also feature prominently.
In a powerful prelude to the conference, WASPEN will hold a Health Walk on June 17, themed “Nutrition is a Human Right: Let Every Step Count in Fighting Against Malnutrition.”
Dr. Pounds described the walk as both symbolic and strategic:
“This is more than a gesture — it is a public declaration of urgency. The people must know their right to nutrition. And they must see that we are walking that talk.”
Ending her address with a call to government, Dr. Pounds urged the Federal Government of Nigeria to establish a multi-sectoral national task force to address hospital malnutrition through sustainable policy, awareness, and intervention frameworks.
“WASPEN stands ready to provide evidence, expertise, and partnership — but we need national leadership and commitment,” she affirmed.
Dr. Pounds concluded with a call to all stakeholders — from policymakers and practitioners to students and the media — to join forces at the conference and beyond, in what she described as “a movement rooted in science, service, and impact.”
“Let us walk, speak, learn, and act — together — toward a West Africa free from malnutrition.”
The Chief Medical Director of National Hospital Abuja, Professor Muhammad Raji Muhamud who was represented by the Chairman of the Medical Advisory Committee (CMAC) of the hospital, Dr. Isiaka Lawal acknowledged that hospital-based malnutrition is a pervasive issue, particularly in tertiary facilities that serve patients from underserved and rural regions.
He said, “We receive patients in advanced states of malnutrition from states as far as Sokoto, Kebbi, and Katsina. Many are children or post-surgical cases, arriving with severe nutritional deficits that complicate treatment”.
He said that the the hospital currently employs a multidisciplinary approach involving dietitians, doctors, nurses, and physiotherapists — but more support and coordination are needed to scale such efforts across the country.
“This partnership with WASPEN gives us a framework to improve outcomes and extend our reach into primary care. We’re now building systems to intervene earlier and ensure patients receive continuity of nutritional care after discharge”.
