President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Prof. Cyril Usifoh has called on the government of Nigeria to provide better nutrition for her citizens, expressing utmost support to join hands in ensuring its promptness and effectiveness.

Prof Usifoh stated this in his goodwill message at the WASPEN 2024 Clinical Nutrition Conference held at Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) Hall 36, Lagos State Nigeria.

While addressing the Chairman of the Occasion, the Coordinating Minister for Health, Prof Ali Pate, represented by the Chief Operational Officer of Federal Medical Center Ebutte Meta, Lagos, Nigeria, Dr. Adedamola Dada, Usifoh said the importance of nutrition cannot be overemphasized in the view of recovering patients who need to be properly fed for quick recovery.

According to him, an average Nigerian needs to get better nutrition when going through the healing process in the hospital especially, children and the vulnerable, urging the government to provide good nutrition across hospitals.

The PSN President assured the Minister that PSN will join hands with the government in fulfilling the task of providing better nutrition for patients. He said, “this aim to achieve through clinician education, research interdisciplinary medical collaboration and awareness creation on issues surrounding nutrition and addressing support for patients in the hospital.”

Appreciating the founder and President of WASPEN, Dr. Teresa Isichei Pounds, for the initiative of bringing healthcare practitioners together, Prof. Usifoh noted the effects of the initiative as Pharmacists and physicians now work together for the overall well-being of the patients' nutritional care in West Africa.

On the other hand, the Managing Director of Fidson Healthcare Plc, Dr. Fidelis Ayebae also promised to continually support WASPEN in achieving the goals of the organization by producing quality pharmaceutical products.

Ayebae appreciated the efforts of WASPEN at bridging the gaps that existed in the health sector, stating that interdisciplinary and multi-disciplinary actions are needed to bridge nutritional gaps. Fidson Healthcare Plc. is one of the leading pharmaceutical companies in Nigeria, manufacturing drugs from an ultramodern, World Health Organization Current Good Manufacturing Practice (WHO cGMP) certifiable factory in Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria.

Similarly, the Director of Nursing Service of Lagos State Ministry of Health, Mrs. Dorcas Shonibare also her belief that the communique from the WASPEN 2024 Clinical Nutrition Conference will be able to proffer solutions to malnutrition in Nigeria and West Africa as a whole.