…30–45 Percent of Patients In Nigerian Tertiary Hospitals Already Malnourished
The West African Society of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (WASPEN) has raised alarm over the rising incidence of hospital malnutrition in Nigeria.
Speaking during a virtual world press conference to announce the 5th Annual WASPEN Clinical Nutrition Conference scheduled for June 22 to 25, 2026, at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Asaba, Delta State, the Founder and President of WASPEN, Dr. Teresa Pounds, said the condition has become a silent epidemic that continues to threaten patient recovery and place additional strain on the healthcare system.
Pounds described hospital malnutrition as one of the most overlooked threats to patient safety and quality healthcare delivery in West Africa.
She noted that poor nutrition screening practices and the absence of multidisciplinary nutrition support teams in many healthcare facilities have continued to worsen patient outcomes.
Pounds revealed that studies indicate between 30 and 45 per cent of patients admitted into tertiary hospitals are already malnourished at the point of admission, with the prevalence even higher among elderly patients.
According to her, hospital malnutrition often goes undetected despite its significant contribution to prolonged illness, delayed recovery, increased complications and rising healthcare costs.
To address the challenge, WASPEN will use its forthcoming conference, themed “Sustainable Clinical Nutrition Services: Ensuring Access, Safety and Collaboration,” to promote improved access to nutrition support services, evidence-based clinical practice and stronger collaboration among healthcare stakeholders.
Speaking on the upcoming conference, she noted that it will focus on neonatal and paediatric nutrition, with experts expected to deliberate on safe and effective parenteral nutrition practices in resource-constrained environments.
Pounds disclosed that over 300 healthcare professionals, researchers, policymakers and international collaborators are expected to participate in the event, which will feature scientific presentations, practical workshops, policy dialogues and community outreach programmes.
She called on governments, healthcare institutions, development partners and the media to support efforts aimed at strengthening nutrition care systems and improving health outcomes for patients across West Africa.
Also speaking the Chairman of the WASPEN Clinical Nutrition Conference, Pharmacist Paul Enebeli, described malnutrition as a major but frequently neglected challenge within hospitals.
He noted that poor nutritional status contributes significantly to longer hospital stays, increased complications, slower recovery and higher medical expenses for patients and their families.
“Clinical nutrition must be treated as an essential clinical service and not merely a support function. Proper nutrition care improves treatment outcomes and enhances patient recovery,” Enebeli stated.
He underscored the urgent need for nutrition-focused healthcare interventions,
Enebeli stressed that many of the adverse consequences associated with hospital malnutrition could be prevented through routine nutrition screening, early intervention and coordinated multidisciplinary care involving physicians, nurses, pharmacists, dietitians, researchers and policymakers.
Enebeli explained that the annual conference has become a leading platform for advancing clinical nutrition practice in the region and fostering sustainable solutions through collaboration among local and international experts.
He further disclosed that WASPEN has supported the establishment of nutrition support steering committees in several healthcare institutions across Nigeria, helping to strengthen nutrition screening, encourage early intervention and improve clinical decision-making.
According to him, the organisation continues to work closely with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and other global nutrition bodies to build capacity and enhance professional standards in nutrition care.
According to him, the conference is expected to strengthen nutrition support teams, encourage research and innovation, promote standardised nutrition assessment practices and support policy reforms aimed at integrating nutrition services into healthcare systems.
Addressing the Press, the Chief Medical Director of FMC Asaba, Dr. Ekeneam Omo, expressed the hospital’s readiness to host the conference, describing the selection of the institution as a significant opportunity to advance clinical nutrition practice within the facility and beyond.
Omo noted that while nutrition-related cases had previously been managed within individual departments, the conference would help drive a more coordinated, hospital-wide approach to nutrition care.
