WASPEN Urges Overhaul of Clinical Nutrition Protocols

The West African Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (WASPEN), in collaboration with the Indian Society of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (ISPN), has advocated for an urgent overhaul of clinical nutrition protocols during a high-level global webinar. The theme of the webinar was to strengthen clinical nutrition care and assess the effects of nutrition.

Dr. Daphne Lovesley, chief clinical dietitian at Apollo Hospital, highlighted the urgency of early nutritional intervention, noting that every 60 seconds, at least 11 hospital patients go undiagnosed for malnutrition.

She disclosed that two-thirds of patients are already malnourished upon admission, with figures rising to 85% in parts of Africa. Delays in initiating nutritional care significantly increase the risk of complications and mortality.

Dr. Lovesley recommended a mandatory "golden hour" framework for nutritional screening within the first six hours of admission.

Dr. Teresa Pound, president of WASPEN, supported the call for reform and emphasized the need for a coordinated approach to implement clinical nutrition systems across Nigeria.