The West Africa Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (WASPEN) held its pre-inaugural chapter meeting in Kaduna, Nigeria, bringing together healthcare professionals committed to advancing specialized nutritional support across West Africa.
The meeting was chaired by Dr. Teresa Pounds, President of WASPEN, and attended by the organization’s executive leadership, including the Secretary, Public Relations Officer (P.R.O.), Treasurer, and other founding members.
Introducing WASPEN’s Vision
During the meeting, Dr. Pounds introduced the vision and objectives of WASPEN, highlighting the organization’s commitment to improving the prevention, identification, and management of malnutrition among hospitalized patients.
She explained that WASPEN is modeled after the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (ASPEN) and aims to bring together pharmacists, physicians, nurses, dietitians, and other healthcare professionals to promote excellence in specialized nutritional support throughout West Africa.
The organization seeks to strengthen multidisciplinary collaboration and improve patient outcomes by ensuring that nutrition becomes an integral part of clinical care.
Advancing the Nutritional Support Initiative
Dr. Pounds also reviewed the progress of the Nutritional Support Initiative launched in November 2018, emphasizing several key priorities:
- Establishing effective nutritional assessment procedures for every patient admitted to hospital.
- Improving the early identification of patients who are malnourished or at risk of malnutrition.
- Promoting the development and strengthening of multidisciplinary Nutrition Support Teams within healthcare institutions.
- Raising awareness of the critical role specialized nutritional support plays in improving patient recovery and clinical outcomes.
Ongoing Hospital Survey
As part of the initiative, a Nutritional Support Hospital Questionnaire Survey was distributed in November 2018 to several key hospitals across Nigeria.
The survey aims to evaluate current hospital practices in nutritional assessment and specialized nutritional support, identify existing gaps, and provide evidence to guide future improvements. Data collection and analysis for the study remain ongoing.
Looking Ahead
Members discussed plans for the official inauguration of the WASPEN chapter, which was anticipated to take place in July or August 2020, with either Lagos or Abuja proposed as the host city.
To strengthen international collaboration and remain actively engaged in developments in clinical nutrition, members were also encouraged to participate in the ASPEN Conference scheduled for May 2020 in Tampa, Florida, USA.
Building a Stronger Future for Clinical Nutrition
The pre-inaugural meeting marked an important milestone in the establishment of WASPEN as a regional professional society dedicated to improving nutritional care across West Africa. Through collaboration, education, research, and advocacy, WASPEN continues to work toward ensuring that every hospitalized patient receives appropriate nutritional assessment and specialized nutritional support as part of quality healthcare.