By Chinenye Anuforo
The West African Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (WASPEN) raised alarm on the critical issue of hospital malnutrition in Nigeria. In an online press conference today, Dr. Teresa Pounds a leading expert in the field, emphasized the urgent need for increased awareness, funding, and resources to address this problem.
“Hospital malnutrition is a silent killer that affects countless patients in Nigeria. Despite its devastating consequences, this issue often goes overlooked and underfunded”, Dr. Pounds stated.
She highlighted the importance of hospitals establishing multidisciplinary nutrition support committees, led by physicians and including pharmacists, nurses, dietitians, and social workers. These committees would be responsible for educating hospital staff, assessing patients’ nutritional status, and providing appropriate nutritional interventions.
“Malnourished patients are at a higher risk of surgical complications, longer hospital stays, and increased healthcare costs. By investing in hospital nutrition programs, we can improve patient outcomes and reduce the overall burden on the healthcare system”, she explained.
Pounds urged the government to recognize the severity of hospital malnutrition and allocate resources to support initiatives aimed at addressing this issue. She also called on NGOs, healthcare providers, and the media to raise awareness and advocate for change.
“Addressing hospital malnutrition requires a collective effort from all stakeholders. By working together, we can ensure that patients receive the proper nutritional care they need throughout their hospital stay”, she said
She also announced the launch of its inaugural Malnutrition Awareness Week. This initiative aims to raise awareness about the prevalence of malnutrition in hospitalized patients and to promote early detection and intervention.
Key activities during Malnutrition Awareness Week include: “Educational workshops: Healthcare professionals will participate in workshops to learn about the causes, consequences, and prevention strategies for malnutrition. Screening programs: Hospitals and clinics will conduct screenings to identify patients at risk of malnutrition and implement appropriate interventions and lastly, Webinars: Two informative webinars will be held, focusing on strategies for early detection and comprehensive management, as well as advancing nutrition advocacy.”
Pounds emphasized the importance of early detection in combating malnutrition. “By identifying patients who are malnourished, we can implement timely interventions to improve their outcomes and prevent further complications,” she stated.
WASPEN is collaborating with the American Society of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (ASPEN) to share expertise and resources. Together, these organizations are committed to improving nutrition care and reducing malnutrition burden in West Africa.
