According to Ann Wigmore, the 'food we eat can either be the safest or most powerful form of medicine, or the slowest poison.' This was the epic focus of the 2Day Clinical Nutrition Conference organized by the West African Society of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (WASPEN) to inform about the importance of nutrition support.

Speaking on the conference , the Founder/CEO of WASPEN, Dr Teresa Pounds said the rationale for the event is to avail participants information about malnutrition and the know how to screening patients and making appropriate recommendations; and be informed about other different initiative of care. Excited about the event, she said, "this is a big day for Nigeria and of course Africa because through WASPEN we have the opportunity to tell that we care about malnutrition and how it affects the people. Malnutrition is real and nutrition is human rights."

Speaking on the aftermath of the conference, Dr Pounds said WASPEN expects all health personnel to be champion of nutrition support in their various fields. She also expects Nigeria to take the lead in Africa to push good nutrition support for all.

The conference which was tagged: Innovative Nutrition Care in Resource Limited Settings," held on 20th - 21st June, 2023 at NECA House Event Centre, Alausa Ikeja, Lagos, with dignitaries across healthcare professionals, researchers and students to brainstorm and share knowledge on latest innovative development in clinical nutrition.

At the event, the President, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, Prof Cyril Usifoh, ably represented Dr Egbuna Udeorah , Deputy President , PSN South ,expressed his joy and gratitude to WASPEN for the great initiative which he said calls for attention and support of everybody as it is beneficial to all. Prof Osifor asserted that there is no better time to discuss nutrition issues than now. He specifically congratulates the organizers of the Clinical Nutrition Conference which he assured of PSN support.

Prince Julius Adelusi - Adeluyi, President of the Nigeria Academy of Pharmacy, was the chairman of the conference. He was impressed with the event which he described as necessary and timely. He congratulates WASPEN and the management team for the laudable project which he said will help much for human nutrition.

The chairman asserted on what good nutrition is to the body and the key to human existence. He urged participants to ensure good nutritional value of food at all times for healthy living. "If you don't make food your medicine, medicine would be your food. You are simply what you eat," he cautioned.

The keynote speaker for the event, Mrs Clare Omotseye, President of the West Africa Private Healthcare Federation was apt on the imperative need for strong advocacy for good nutrition. She impressed on the need to fight malnutrition and poverty as they bring misery to mankind.

While calling on all to share the beautiful initiative of WASPEN to make the desired difference, she advocated for collaborative support from other agencies - both public and private develop this initiative; and the need to recruit mor dieticians and nutritionists in health centres across the country. She urged healthcare givers to do more on healthcare than sickcare.

Also at the event is the famous healthcare researcher cum policy maker,Dr Peter Adigwe, DG/CEO, National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD). In his presentation titled: "Building the Gap: Opportunities for Advancing Nutrition Research in Sub Sahara Countries," Adigwe harped on the increasing trending needs for the healthcare and the opportunities to be explored in the healthcare sector.

Dr Adigwe went further to explain how research can lead to improvement in healthcare services and the numerous advance research NIPRD has embarked upon.. He harped more on the achievements in NIPRD of different laboratories which were acquired through several intervention.

While commending the efforts of WASPEN which he described as lofty and valuable to fill the nutrition gap; he challenged WASPEN to advocate for legislation and policy formulation in Nigeria, and emphasing that the initiative should not only be restricted to West African countries alone, but also to become ASPEN to cater to all Africa countries. He asserted that malnutrition affects the vulnerable population particularly in Africa where it is highest.

Adigwe challenged the Pharmaceutical sector to rise to the occasion as resources are readily available to make Nigeria to play the leading role in Africa. He extended NIPRD's hand of partnership with WASPEN to forge ahead in the nutrition initiative.

Another speaker at the conference is Dr Adedapo Osinowo, senior lecturer in College of Medicine, University of Lagos.

In his presentation titled: "Building a Multidisciplinary Winning Team to Beat Malnutrition in the Acute Care Setting: A Physician Perspective", he built on the need for medical professionals to leverage on working in synergy to save more patients. This He said is necessary as they are all interdependent. He emphasized the importance of nutrition in patients health because however good the physician is or do his work, poor or bad nutrition will mar his efforts because a malnourished patient can not respond effectively to treatment. A malnourished therefore needs nutritional support before and after theatre operation. He said this will help to give the best for the patient to get better. "Team work of all inter disciplinaries will ensure better results. Every patient therefore needs nutritional support." He said.

The panel session of the conference was a cynosure of robust interaction on the subject matter of nutrition. The panel constituted of hospital pharmacist, community pharmacist, dietician, physician, nurse, and health technician specialist. The different clinical specialists on the edge of specialisation bear mind as they relate with nutrition management in their respective healthcare centres. This is in line with the advocated synergy among clinical professionals.

The interactive session had participants asking panelists related questions which was really contributive to intellectual knowledge.

Members of the panel include Dr Iyeseun Asieba, as the moderator of the season. Others are Pharm. Vern Ohaya, Mrs OLueakemi Omoyeni; Pharm, Folasade Lawal and, Dr A, O Oshinowo.

Another rewarding session of the conference was the Nutrition Screening and Assessment Skills Lab Workshop. The essence of the laboratory workshop is to train and empower participants to screen patients for malnutrition and make appropriate recommendations. This according to the organisers is to equip participants with the requisite skin and tools to recognize the gap in malnutrition and the strategy to fill it. This is very important to help participants fit into the nutrition support and care initiative. Participants were issued certificate for the shot course of malnutrition screening and support.

Dr Iyeseun Asieba, clinical pharmacist and board treasurer, WASPEN, expressed her excitement for the conference focus and the caliber of people in attendance. She stressed the need for collaboration among healthcare professionals, because every health worker is very important in improving the nutrition status of patients. She said this is necessary because nutrition plays key role in the recovery from diseases and remaining healthy.

Dr Leo Egbujiobi, member of the Board of Directors of WASPEN was all excitement as he described the conference as showing the role of nutrition and recovery from diseases. He appealed to participants to seriously engage in the conversation so as to become better agent on the message.

Leoshni Dwarka, regional director of Africa New Age International (South Africa) drew on the significance of the innovative conference and assured of their organisation readiness to partner WASPEN to achieve the vision and goals of the organisers. She was all smile as the conference offered her opportunity to create awareness for their products in Nigeria.

Jacob Nwachukwu, President, Blood Pressure Control Foundation, described the conference as one emphasizing on our fundalmetal human right, which is the right to life. He said we can only have that right when we are properly fed with adequate nutrition. He added that being alive is not enough, but must be physically fit and mentally balance.

The wealth of experience shared among participants in the conference can not be taken for granted as everyone has something great to take back to his/her community. Dtn. (Mrs) Akhigbe Evelyn from Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital, Bayelsa confided to CEOAFRICA that the conference is quite beneficial to all because of the informed innovations and experience learnt. "This is one area most healthcare providers don't give adequate attention to. Now we have been informed about the need for nutrition support and cooperation among healthcare professionals for efficient services to patients.

Another participant, Pharm. Stephanie Obibi expressed her gratitude to WASPEN for the novel and great initiative. She prayed for more of such scientific conferences where healthcare experts meet and add to the body of knowledge.

Richard Longe, representative of New Age International (South Africa) harped on it as a conference with so much innovative benefits for Africa to gain from. He said more than ever, Africa needs to take nutrition support more serious to help eliminate or reduce malnutrition.

On the seamless organisation of the conference proceeding, the local organizing committee members credited it to the spirit of team work among members. Dnt Wright Olabisi, chairperson of the local organizing committee, and Tevin Klein, project director revealed that adequate and timely preparation was put in place with all required support from WASPEN. They promised participants to expect more value in next year's conference (WASPEN 2024 CONFERENCE).

There was products presentation from different companies .

As the clinical nutrition conference came to an end, Dr Teresa Pounds Founder/CEO of WASPEN was excited for the accomplishment of the conference. She challenged participants to go and become nutrition support ambassadors in their various communities and institutions. "You have become a champion. When you become a champion you identify with other champions to sustain the nutrition support. That is how best we can grow and trend the vision. Anybody can become a champion of nutrition support." She said.