Preparations for the highly anticipated West African Society of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (WASPEN) 2024 Clinical Nutrition Conference are in top gear and is just 116 days to event day. The conference which is scheduled to take place in Lagos, Nigeria from June 3rd to 7th, 2024, will be held at the prestigious Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) Hall 36, aims to gather professionals from various fields to share their expertise and explore the latest advancements in clinical nutrition.

With the theme, "Advancing Clinical Nutrition Care: Regional Guidelines and Standards for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition," the conference promises to be a platform for the exchange of ideas and the development of strategies to improve clinical nutrition in West Africa. The event will bring together dietitians, medical doctors, nurses, pharmacists, laboratory scientists, government bodies, nutrition enthusiasts, researchers, and students in the field.

In an update provided by CEOAFRICA, it has been confirmed that the Honourable Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Mohammad Ali Pate CON, will be in attendance at the conference. This news has generated even more excitement among participants.

The conference schedule includes a health walk on Tuesday, June 4th, which will take place around the LUTH premises at 8:00 am. This activity aims to promote physical wellness among participants before the start of the two-day scientific conference, which will commence daily at 8:00 am from June 5th to 6th, and conclude on June 7th.

Those interested in presenting their research at the conference are reminded to submit their abstracts for poster presentations and oral presentations before the May 4th deadline. Abstracts should be sent to clinicalnutrition@waspen.org for consideration.

Registration for the conference is now open. Regular attendees can register for ₦30,000, with an early bird discount available for those who register before May 17th, reducing the fee to ₦25,000. Researchers and post-graduate students can register for ₦20,000, while undergraduates can register for a flat fee of ₦10,000.

CEOAFRICA, the official media partner of the event, has commenced its assessments of the venue and preparations for comprehensive media coverage to ensure the WASPEN 2024 conference becomes a historic occasion. Recall that in a recent grand assessment visit by the CEO Africa team to the conference venue, Ojei S.O (FWAPCNM), the Local Organizing Committee Chair and the Deputy Director Nursing Services at LUTH expressed her confidence that LUTH is ready to host the conference at a top-notch level and that preparations for the conference are 95% complete, 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. Participants and members of the public are encouraged to stay tuned to all media channels of CEOAFRICA for updates regarding the conference.

WASPEN aims to improve clinical nutritional care in West Africa through clinical education, research, and interdisciplinary medical collaboration. The organization was founded in 2019 by Dr. Teresa Isichei Pounds, a highly experienced pharmacist and visionary in the field of clinical nutrition. Dr. Pounds is also the Chairperson of the Nigerian Pharmacist and Pharmaceutical Scientists Association (NAPPSA), a fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Pharmacy (FNAPHARM), and a member of the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (ASPEN).
On the other hand, Professor Mohammad Ali Pate CON is a highly respected physician, politician, and academician. He was appointed as Nigeria's Minister of Health and Social Welfare in 2023, after serving as the Global Director for Health, Nutrition, and Population at the World Bank Group. Pate is a Professor of the Practice of Public Health Leadership at Harvard University's Department of Global Health and Population.

Recognizing his significant contributions to public health, Pate was conferred with the Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) on October 11th, 2022. He holds several prestigious positions and has served as a minister in Nigeria previously. Pate's appointment as CEO of GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance, in February 2023 further solidifies his commitment to improving healthcare outcomes in low-income countries.

To register for the conference or learn more about sponsorship opportunities, interested individuals are encouraged to visit the WASPEN portal at www.waspen.org/conference. Alternatively, they can contact the conference organizers at +2348106907691 or +2348029488257 for further assistance and inquiries. This conference presents an unprecedented opportunity to be part of a groundbreaking event that will shape the future of clinical nutrition in West Africa.