By: Manoah Kikekon
ASABA, NIGERIA — The West African Society of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (WASPEN) has officially announced its 5th Annual Clinical Nutrition Conference. Scheduled to take place from June 22nd to 25th, 2026, at the Federal Medical Centre in Asaba, Delta State, the summit aims to confront the "silent epidemic" of hospital-based malnutrition that continues to stall healthcare progress in the region.
The announcement was made during a virtual press conference held on Monday, June 1, 2026, by Dr. Teresa Isichei Pounds, the Founder and President of WASPEN. Addressing journalists and healthcare stakeholders, Dr. Pounds highlighted that while medical technology has advanced, the fundamental role of nutrition in clinical recovery remains dangerously overlooked.
The theme for the 2026 summit is "Sustainable Clinical Nutrition Services: Ensuring Access, Safety, and Collaboration.” This focus arrives at a critical time; statistics show that between 30% and 45% of patients in Nigerian tertiary hospitals are malnourished upon admission—a figure that often worsens during their stay due to a lack of specialized nutrition teams.
"Malnutrition remains one of the most under-recognized threats to patient safety and recovery," Dr. Pounds disclosed during the briefing. "It affects patients across all stages of life—from premature newborns in neonatal units to adults living with chronic diseases like cancer and HIV. Evidence shows that hospital malnutrition is associated with longer stays, increased infections, and higher mortality rates. Yet, nutrition care is still not consistently integrated into routine clinical practice."*
The conference will focus on three urgent pillars designed to bridge the gap in Nigerian healthcare: Universal Access: Ensuring nutrition support is available regardless of a patient's economic status or geographic location.
Patient Safety: Standardizing protocols to ensure interventions are guided by rigorous evidence and multidisciplinary oversight.
Regional Collaboration: Uniting government agencies, researchers, and international partners to create a coordinated front against malnutrition.
"Together, we can strengthen nutrition care systems and improve early identification and treatment," Dr. Pounds added. "We envision a region where nutrition is recognized as a human right and where every patient has access to safe, equitable care."
Founded in 2019, WASPEN has grown from a visionary concept into a robust interdisciplinary movement. The society has already established Nutrition Support Steering Committees in several of Nigeria's leading institutions, including the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) and the National Hospital Abuja. These committees have been instrumental in implementing nutrition screening and fostering collaboration between physicians, pharmacists, nurses, and dietitians.
As the society prepares for its fifth gathering in Asaba, the goal remains clear: moving clinical nutrition from the sidelines to the center of the patient’s chart. By bringing together the brightest minds in the field, WASPEN hopes to turn the tide on readmission rates and provide a roadmap for sustainable, nutrition-focused healthcare delivery throughout West Africa.