CYRIACUS IZUEKWE
The West African Society of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition has announced its 5th Annual Clinical Nutrition Conference, set for 22nd June, 2026, at the Federal Medical Centre, Asaba, Delta State.
P.M.EXPRESS reports as was disclosed by the WASPEN Founder and President, Dr. Teresa Isichei Pounds, during a Zoom press conference.
She explained that the event marks five years of advocacy, training, and partnerships to move clinical nutrition from the margins to the center of patient care.
This year’s theme, “Sustainable Clinical Nutrition Services: Ensuring Access, Safety, and Collaboration,” will guide discussions on delivering safe, evidence-based nutrition support to all patients.
Dr. Pounds described hospital malnutrition as a silent epidemic, noting that 30-45% of patients in Nigeria’s tertiary hospitals are malnourished at admission, rising to 71% in elderly wards in Enugu.
She stated that the condition drives longer hospital stays, higher infection rates, and increased mortality, yet routine screening and multidisciplinary nutrition teams remain scarce.
The 2026 conference will focus heavily on neonatal and pediatric nutrition, with international faculty, a specialized roundtable on safe parenteral nutrition for neonates, workshops, outreach activities, and policy sessions. More than 300 healthcare professionals, researchers, and policymakers from Nigeria and overseas are expected, including representatives from ASPEN and ISPEN.
For over five years, WASPEN has hosted four annual conferences, set up Nutrition Support Steering Committees at LUTH, ABUTH Zaria, National Hospital Abuja, and other institutions, and led Malnutrition Awareness Week campaigns nationwide. Expected outcomes for this year include stronger multidisciplinary nutrition systems, better early detection and treatment of malnutrition, and evidence-based recommendations to shape policy.
Dr. Pounds appreciated the Delta State Government, FMC Asaba, Federal Ministry of Health, and other partners, and urged government agencies, healthcare leaders, and the media to collaborate in ensuring every patient receives timely nutrition care to survive and recover.