Experts push for integrated hospital and community-based interventions to tackle malnutrition
By Bianca Iboma-Emefu
Malnutrition remains a persistent public health crisis in developing regions, particularly in West Africa. Healthcare professionals and nutrition experts are calling for a holistic approach to combat the issue both within hospitals and at the grassroots level.
Convener of the West African Society of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (WASPEN), Dr. Teresa Isichei Pounds, stated that a comprehensive set of strategic initiatives has been proposed to address nutrition disparities and improve care for the most vulnerable populations,including hospitalized individuals, children, and women from low-income families, at the upcoming WASPEN 2025 Conference.
The conference is scheduled to hold from June 17 to 19, 2025, at the National Hospital Abuja. Under the compelling theme, “Bridging the gap: Integrating hospital and community malnutrition care in developing countries,” the event aims to address the critical disconnect between hospital-based treatment and community nutrition support across West Africa.
Dr. Pounds, during a virtual press conference to herald the upcoming conference, urged all levels of government to address the critical issue of hospital malnutrition.
She said: “Malnutrition refers to deficiencies, excesses, or imbalances in a person’s intake of energy and/or nutrients.”
WASPEN President further emphasized the urgent need to establish Nutrition Steering Committees (NSCs) in all hospitals across the country to help address malnutrition issues and improve overall patient care.
“Hospitals should establish a Nutrition Support Committee comprising doctors, pharmacists, nurses, dietitians, and social workers to ensure prompt access to nutritional care when patients are admitted,” she stated.
She reiterated that there is little or no information about the nutritional status of most patients in Nigerian hospitals, which has serious health and economic implications.
Dr. Pounds emphasized that WASPEN aims to eradicate malnutrition and intends to bring together a diverse array of health professionals, including physicians, nurses, pharmacists, dietitians, policymakers, and representatives from government and non-governmental organizations in a collaborative effort to promote early nutrition screening, timely interventions, and expanded access to nutrition services.
She added that the three-day conference will feature expert panels, keynote addresses from renowned leaders such as Prof. Cyril Usifoh and Prof. Audu Bala, interactive case studies, poster sessions, and the inauguration of the Nutrition Steering Committee at the National Hospital Abuja.
However, Dr. Pounds urged hospitals to adopt early and comprehensive nutrition assessments at the point of patient admission. She emphasized that timely identification and continuous monitoring of malnourished individuals are critical to improving health outcomes. Personalized meal plans and oral nutritional supplements (ONS) are recommended, especially for patients with limited access to balanced diets.
“Additionally, the implementation of dietitian-led quality improvement programmes should be promoted to ensure the timely and effective delivery of ONS, ultimately enhancing patient recovery rates. Addressing underlying medical conditions such as chronic illnesses and digestive disorders, which often exacerbate malnutrition, is also essential.
Outside the hospital setting, community-level solutions should also be prioritized. Local health workers could be trained, and therapeutic care programs should be expanded to deliver care directly to homes and local clinics, especially for children with moderate malnutrition.
Moreover, long-term solutions must empower families,particularly women,with nutrition education, income-generating opportunities, and access to affordable, nutrient-rich foods. As a stakeholder, she advocates for policies that support food security and resilience in vulnerable households.
She also highlighted the need for a multi-sectoral national task force focused on sustained awareness, legislative reform, and practical solutions to combat hospital malnutrition.
Highlights include a public health walk themed, “Nutrition is a human right: Let every step count in fighting malnutrition,” emphasizing community engagement and awareness. This multidisciplinary platform aims to foster innovative solutions—from artificial intelligence in nutrition to local supply chain reforms—driving evidence-based practices and policy reforms essential for combating malnutrition in the region.
“WASPEN calls on healthcare professionals, students, policymakers, and the media to join this movement, advocating for sustained national efforts to prioritize nutrition. The organization also urges the federal government to establish a multi-sectoral national task force dedicated to advancing nutrition policies and programmes.
As the region strives toward a future where malnutrition no longer exists, WASPEN invites all stakeholders to walk, speak, learn, and act together in building a healthier West Africa.
As the WASPEN 2025 Conference approaches, the focus remains on forging innovative, scalable, and sustainable solutions to close the nutrition gap across West Africa—transforming how malnutrition is identified, treated, and ultimately prevented.
WASPEN is ready to support this task force with evidence, expertise, and partnership. But this must become a national priority,” Dr. Pounds urged.
“As the region continues to grapple with health challenges, this conference reresents more than a professional gathering — it is a cross-sector movement grounded in science, service, and shared responsibility.”