With history of consistent significant impact in the healthcare sector and human welfarism, plans are solid for the 2024 Annual conference of the West African Society of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (WASPEN). The theme of the conference is “Advancing Clinical Nutrition Care: Regional Guidelines and Standards for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition.”

As the date of the international event approaches, scheduled to hold from Monday June 3, 2024, to Friday June 7, 2024, at Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) Hall 36, Lagos State, Nigeria, CEOAFRICA gathers ten critical and important things for you to know about the conference, attesting to reasons you must attend. They are:

1. Facts on Malnourishment of patients on admission, and other major healthcare facts: The event will address the issue and cases of patients suffering from malnourishment when admitted to hospitals. WASPEN Founder, Dr. Teresa Pounds revealed that a patient admitted to hospital may suffer malnourishment during their stay, thereby impacting their illness, length of stay, and cost of critical care. Reasons, causes, prevention and solutions will be addressed at the WASPEN 2024 CONFERENCE. Certainly, this is only one of the many critical healthcare cases to be addressed.

2. Extension of payment deadline for Early birds: The registration fee for regular attendees set at #30,000 with an early bird discount of #25,000 is available for register before May 31st, an extension of the initial May 17th deadline. Researchers are to pay #20,000 while undergraduate students are to pay #10,000.

3. Speakers and dignitaries to meet at the occasion with possibility of mentorship: Chairman of the occasion is the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Federal Ministry of Health, Professor Ali Muhammed Pate; the Executive Governor of Lagos State, Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu is the Chief Host of the event; and the Host is the Chief Medical Director, Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Professor Wasiu ‘Lanre Adeyemo (FAS). Keynote Speaker of the conference is the Special Adviser on Health to the Governor of Lagos State, Dr. Yemi Ogunyemi. Special Guests are the President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Professor Cyril Usifoh, and the President of the Dietitians Association of Nigeria (DAN), Professor Olivia Afam-Anene.

These, among other dignitaries and key players of the industry, are scheduled to be at the conference, giving attendees great opportunity to meet and get mentors from the industry.

4. Networking: The availability of industry experts, stakeholders and key-players at the conference will give room for networking, interactions and exchange of ideas and resources towards individual and business growth.

5. Staying up-to-date with industry trends and prospects: The attendance of stakeholders and experts who will share their myriad wealth of experience will keep conferees on up-to-date trends and prospects in the industry.

6. What to expect: WASPEN is a regionally focused organization committed to the improvement of clinical nutritional care in West Africa through clinician education, research and interdisciplinary medical collaboration. Hence, the conference will focus on enhancing quality assurance in clinical nutrition services, fostering patient-centred approaches for both adult and paediatric population, promoting interdisciplinary collaboration for comprehensive care, exploring innovations in nutritional therapy, strategic consideration for sustainable healthcare economics, among others.

Specifically, while Monday is arrival, health walk holds at 8am on Tuesday; and on Wednesday and Thursday, the scientific conference will hold as and departure will be on Friday.

7. Who to attend and becoming a member: Medical Doctors, Nurses, Pharmacists, Dietitians, Nutrition Enthusiasts, Lab Scientists, Government bodies, Policy Makers, Nutrition enthusiasts, Researchers, as well as students in the field, and the general public. On the other hand, the event grants the opportunity for interested persons to become members of WASPEN or ASPEN as there will be due registration of new members.

8. Previous achievements: Besides being the Founder/President of WASPEN, Dr. Pounds, a Fellow of Nigerian Academy of Pharmacy (FNAPharm), Chairperson of the Nigerian Pharmacist and Pharmaceutical Scientist Association (NAPPSA) and Member of ASPEN (American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition), is dedicated to developing clinical pharmacy training programs both locally and internationally. Dr. Pounds has served in different capacities in both the pharmacy and medical arena in nutrition support, medication therapy management advocacy, global medical missions, and clinical pharmacy practice. Also dedicated to developing clinical pharmacy training programs both locally and internationally, she is an expert on various topics in nutrition support and infectious diseases and has published and presented at national conferences on clinical pharmacy, nutrition-related topics.

9. Preparations: In a recent grand assessment visit by the CEOAFRICA team to the conference venue, the Local Organizing Committee Chair and the Deputy Director Nursing Services at LUTH, S.O Ojei (FWAPCNM), expressed his confidence that LUTH is ready to host the conference on a top-notch level. Ojei assured that the delegates and facilitators of the conference will enjoy uninterrupted 24-hour electricity supply, adding that the management board of LUTH under the leadership of the Chief Medical Director, Professor Adeyemo Lanre Wasiu (FAS) is equally enthusiastic and prepared to support the success of the conference.

10. Registration and enquiries: Participants are urged to pre-register online at www.waspen.org/conference. For registration and sponsorship, contact the LOC Chairman, Mrs. Ojei O.C Sarah on +234 803 721 0838; Co-chair, Mrs Sarah Wright on +234 803 576 5270; Tevin Klein on +234 810 6907 691, +234 802 948 8257.

Moreover, reading an endless list of impactful and exciting events to anticipate at the WASPEN 2024 Conference cannot substitute your attendance. CEOAFRICA looks forward to capturing memorable moments for you at the conference.