The West African Society of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition has identified malnutrition as a major obstacle hindering quick recovery of patients in the country.
  
President of WASPEN, Dr Teresa Pounds, stated this during a virtual press conference ahead of the fifth annual conference of the organisation.
  
She observed that malnutrition increases hospital readmission and mortality rates in the country and urged the Federal Government to accord hospital malnutrition the same level of attention given to community malnutrition.
  
According to Pounds, despite Nigeria’s huge human and material resources, between 30 and 45 per cent of patients admitted into tertiary hospitals are already malnourished at the point of admission.
 
She described malnutrition as one of the most under-recognised threats to patient safety and recovery in Nigeria, noting that available evidence links poor nutrition to longer hospital stays, increased infections and delayed wound healing.
  
While calling on governments at all levels to address the situation urgently, Pounds lamented that malnutrition continues to increase readmission and mortality rates across healthcare facilities in the country.
  
“Malnutrition remains one of the most under-recognised threats to patient safety and recovery,” she said. “It affects patients across all stages of life, from premature newborns in neonatal intensive care units to children battling severe illnesses and adults living with chronic diseases such as HIV, tuberculosis, cancer and surgical conditions.”
  
She added that evidence shows hospital malnutrition is associated with prolonged hospital stays, higher treatment costs, delayed recovery and increased mortality.
  
Pounds described hospital malnutrition as a “silent epidemic” in Nigeria and called on stakeholders to intensify efforts toward addressing the challenge.
  
She stressed that this year’s conference would place special emphasis on neonatal and paediatric nutrition care, noting that newborns and children remain among the most vulnerable patients within the healthcare system.
  
According to her, the survival and long-term development of children are heavily dependent on timely and appropriate nutrition support.
  
Pounds further disclosed that the conference would feature hands-on workshops, community outreach activities, scientific presentations, policy discussions and networking sessions aimed at improving nutrition care delivery.
  
She stated that the conference seeks to deliver actionable outcomes, including improved awareness of the role of clinical nutrition in patient safety and recovery, stronger multidisciplinary nutrition support systems in healthcare institutions.
  
It will also provide innovative approaches to neonatal and paediatric nutrition care, enhanced collaboration among government, healthcare institutions and professional bodies, evidence-based recommendations to guide policy and clinical practice, as well as expanded access to safe and effective nutrition therapy.
  
Also speaking, Chairman of the conference, Paul Enebel, said malnutrition continues to negatively affect patient outcomes across the healthcare system.
  
According to him, poor nutrition slows recovery rates, prolongs hospital stays, worsens complications and places significant financial pressure on both families and healthcare institutions.