The West African Society of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (WASPEN) has raised alarm over what it described as a “silent killer” undermining patient recovery in Nigerian hospitals — malnutrition.
The group made the call on Monday while unveiling activities for Malnutrition Awareness Week 2025 with the theme “United Against Malnutrition.”
WASPEN President and Founder, Dr. Teresa Pounds, who spoke at a press conference, commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Federal Ministry of Health, and nutrition-focused organizations for their efforts in tackling community malnutrition. She, however, stressed that hospital malnutrition must no longer be ignored.
“Patients recovering from surgery, those battling cancer, older adults, and children in fragile health all rely on proper nutrition care. Without it, recovery stalls and lives are at risk,” she said.
According to her, up to 45 percent of patients in Nigerian hospitals are malnourished, a figure she described as shocking and largely underreported.
“Hospital malnutrition is a ticking time bomb,” Dr. Pounds declared. “It affects the most vulnerable — children, the elderly, cancer patients — and it is costing lives and taxpayers billions in prolonged stays and re-admissions.”
Recent data presented by WASPEN showed that 41.2 percent of children under five in Nasarawa State are malnourished, while 71.3 percent of elderly patients in Enugu State face the same challenge. The consequences, according to experts, include longer hospital stays, higher risk of infection, complications, and preventable deaths.
Dr. Pounds emphasized that malnutrition in hospitals is often overshadowed by community malnutrition, even though both are “two sides of the same coin.”
“This is why WASPEN, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health, is ensuring that hospital malnutrition is not left behind. We are especially proud that the Ministry’s Director of Nutrition, Mrs. Ladidi Bako-Aiyegbusi, will be speaking during our webinars this week — a clear sign of government partnership and commitment. But commitment must translate into policy and action,” she said.
The campaign, which runs throughout the week, will feature expert webinars, regional outreach programmes, and institutional engagements across Nigeria, with participation from nutrition leaders in the United States and West Africa. For the first time, Ghana and Cameroon are joining Nigeria in the regional campaign.
International partners, including Dr. Phil Ayers and Dr. Albert Barrocas of the American Society of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (ASPEN), have also called on Nigerian leaders to prioritize nutrition in hospitals.
“Nutrition is not a privilege; it’s a human right that saves lives,” Dr. Barrocas said.
WASPEN’s campaign is expected to spark fresh policy conversations and strengthen collaboration with government and health institutions. Experts warn that unless Nigeria integrates nutrition into its healthcare system, more patients will continue to suffer preventable complications and deaths.
Dr. Pounds concluded with a passionate appeal: “Together, we must ensure that hospital malnutrition is no longer hidden in the shadows. Our patients deserve better — they deserve nutrition that restores, heals, and saves lives.”
