At the WASPEN 2025 Conference held on June 17, 2025, at the Trauma Center of the National Hospital Abuja, Professor Muhammad Raji Mahmud, Chief Medical Director of the hospital, reinforced the necessity for routine nutritional assessments upon patient admission. He highlighted that malnutrition is frequently overlooked in clinical settings and has a profound impact on patient recovery outcomes.

“A significant number of malnourished patients go undetected,” Prof. Raji stated, emphasizing the need to integrate nutritional care into patient management right from the point of entry into the healthcare system.

He commended WASPEN’s advocacy efforts aimed at policy reform, enhancing product accessibility, and building capacity in clinical nutrition, recognizing their pivotal role in addressing malnutrition.

“It brings me great joy that WASPEN has chosen the National Hospital to host their 2025 conference,” he said. “We believe in collaboration and the exchange of ideas, as well as the cross-pollination of thoughts, which are essential ingredients for growth. As a tertiary institution, we acknowledge that the issue of malnutrition should ideally be managed at the primary healthcare level.”

Professor Raji assured attendees, “If we continue to host this program here year after year, we will be here to support it wholeheartedly.” His remarks underscored a commitment to fostering collaborative efforts in tackling malnutrition across Nigeria.