Hospital malnutrition has emerged as a silent but devastating public health crisis in Nigeria, with as many as 45 percent of patients arriving at hospitals already malnourished, according to Dr. Teresa Isichei Pounds, Founder and President of the West African Society of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (WASPEN).

Dr. Pounds made the disclosure on Monday during a press conference announcing the Fifth Annual Clinical Nutrition Conference of WASPEN, scheduled to hold from June 22 to 25, 2026, in Asaba, Delta State. She described hospital malnutrition as one of the most overlooked threats to patient safety and recovery in the country, warning that the absence of routine nutritional screening and multidisciplinary clinical nutrition teams in many healthcare facilities continues to fuel a growing but largely hidden healthcare emergency.

According to her, despite the long-established medical principle that effective treatment begins with accurate diagnosis, many hospitals still fail to assess the nutritional status of patients upon admission, leaving healthcare professionals unaware of a critical factor that significantly influences treatment outcomes.

“Hospital malnutrition is real. It exists, and it continues to impact patient outcomes across our healthcare system,” she said, stressing that nutrition care remains insufficiently integrated into routine clinical practice despite overwhelming evidence of its importance in patient recovery.

She revealed that studies conducted in Nigerian tertiary hospitals indicate that between 30 and 45 percent of patients are already malnourished at the time of admission. The situation is even more alarming among vulnerable populations. In elderly care wards in Enugu, malnutrition prevalence has reached 71 percent, while a report by Doctors Without Borders (MSF) documented the deaths of more than 800 severely malnourished children within healthcare facilities in Katsina State over a one-year period.

Dr. Pounds explained that untreated hospital malnutrition contributes to prolonged hospital stays, increased susceptibility to infections, delayed wound healing, higher healthcare costs, frequent readmissions, and elevated mortality rates. She noted that the impact spans every stage of life, affecting premature babies in neonatal intensive care units, children, adults living with chronic illnesses, cancer patients, surgical patients, and the elderly.

Also speaking at the briefing, the Medical Director of Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Asaba, Dr. Ekeneam Omo, expressed the institution’s readiness to host the conference and described the event as a strategic opportunity to strengthen clinical nutrition services and improve patient care outcomes.

Dr. Omo stated that FMC Asaba had commenced extensive preparations, including the provision of facilities and logistics required for the successful hosting of the international gathering. He added that the hospital is working closely with the Delta State Government and relevant stakeholders to ensure that the conference delivers meaningful outcomes for the healthcare sector.

“We believe that we are ready to host the conference and ensure that all the objectives of an event of this magnitude are achieved,” he said.

Reflecting on the society’s achievements, Dr. Pounds noted that WASPEN has successfully organized four consecutive annual clinical nutrition conferences since its establishment in 2019. She described the forthcoming conference as a landmark event celebrating five years of advocacy, research, capacity building, and strategic partnerships aimed at strengthening clinical nutrition services across West Africa.

The conference, themed **“Sustainable Clinical Nutrition Services: Ensuring Access, Safety, and Collaboration,”** will focus on expanding access to nutrition therapy, strengthening patient safety through evidence-based practices, and fostering multidisciplinary collaboration among healthcare professionals and institutions.

Dr. Pounds said the gathering is expected to increase awareness of the critical role of clinical nutrition in patient recovery, strengthen nutrition support systems in healthcare facilities, promote innovative approaches to neonatal and pediatric nutrition care, and generate evidence-based recommendations capable of shaping policy and clinical practice across the region.

Adding his voice to the call for systemic reform, Chairman of the Conference, Pharm. (Chief) DSc Paul Osogbe Enebeli, emphasized that many of the devastating consequences of hospital malnutrition are preventable through early detection and coordinated multidisciplinary intervention.

He noted that timely nutritional assessment and comprehensive care significantly improve recovery rates, enhance treatment outcomes, and reduce complications among hospitalized patients.

“Clinical nutrition must be treated as an essential and urgent healthcare service in Nigeria,” Enebeli stated.

According to him, the multidisciplinary approach championed through Nutrition Support Steering Committees is already yielding positive results in several leading healthcare institutions across the country. He commended Dr. Teresa Isichei Pounds for her visionary leadership and unwavering commitment to advancing hospital nutrition practice in Nigeria and the wider West African region.

Enebeli particularly praised her efforts in bringing together national stakeholders, including the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, as well as international partners such as the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (ASPEN), to strengthen nutrition care systems.

“When many people are leaving Nigeria in search of opportunities elsewhere, Dr. Teresa Pounds is returning home to make a difference and contribute to improving healthcare outcomes for Nigerians,” he remarked.

He also applauded the management of Federal Medical Centre, Asaba, led by Dr. Ekeneam Omo, for partnering with WASPEN to host the conference, while commending the Executive Governor of Delta State, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Francis Oborevwori, for creating an enabling environment for healthcare and scientific initiatives.

According to him, the support of government, healthcare institutions, and international partners has further elevated the global significance of the conference.

“The future of clinical nutrition depends on partnerships, collaboration, and the commitments we make today,” he concluded.

A major highlight of the 2026 conference will be its special focus on neonatal and pediatric nutrition care. An expert scientific roundtable will be convened to develop protocols for the safe administration of parenteral nutrition to newborns in resource-constrained healthcare settings.

The conference is expected to attract more than 300 healthcare professionals, researchers, policymakers, and nutrition experts from across the world, including representatives from the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (ASPEN) and the Indian Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (ISPEN).

The high-profile event will be chaired by Pharm. (Chief) DSc Paul Osogbe Enebeli, while Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Francis Oborevwori, and the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, CON, are expected as Special Guests of Honour.

His Royal Majesty, Obi Prof. Epiphany Azinge, SAN, the Asagba of Asaba, will serve as Royal Father of the Day.

The conference will also feature distinguished national and international experts, including Mrs. Ladi-Bako Aiyegbusi, mni, former Director of Nutrition at the Federal Ministry of Health, who will deliver the keynote address. Other speakers include Dr. Zandratetta Tim Cook of Heather Ivy Society Inc. and Faebris Medical USA, Dr. Mario Ferreyra of Peru, renowned interventional cardiologist Dr. Leo C. Egunjobi from the United States, and Delta State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Joseph Onojaeme.

Dr. Pounds and Dr. Omo will serve as Chief Hosts of the conference, while Dr. Ekedegwa Apeh heads the Local Organising Committee. The WASPEN Board of Trustees, led administratively by Secretary Prof. Azuka Opara and Assistant Secretary Ejiro Akpovwowo, will also play key roles in coordinating the event.

Over the past five years, WASPEN has championed the establishment of multidisciplinary Nutrition Support Steering Committees in major healthcare institutions, including Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH), National Hospital Abuja, Army Command and NAOWA Hospital Abuja, and Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital. These initiatives have focused on promoting early nutritional intervention and improving patient outcomes through structured clinical nutrition services.

The 2026 conference has already secured the endorsement of the Delta State Government, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, and traditional institutions, underscoring the growing recognition of nutrition as a critical pillar of healthcare delivery.

Dr. Pounds called on government agencies, healthcare institutions, professional associations, development partners, and the media to unite in confronting the challenge of hospital malnutrition. She emphasized that nutrition should be recognized as a fundamental human right and an essential component of quality healthcare.

She further urged hospitals nationwide to adopt mandatory nutritional screening protocols, invest in clinical nutrition training, and establish multidisciplinary nutrition support teams capable of identifying and managing malnutrition before it escalates into life-threatening complications.

As preparations intensify for the landmark conference in Asaba, Dr. Pounds extended an open invitation to healthcare professionals, researchers, policymakers, students, and industry leaders to participate in what she described as a defining moment for the future of clinical nutrition in Africa.

“Malnutrition may be hidden within our hospitals, but its consequences are visible every day,” she said. “The time for coordinated action is now.”