As parts of preparation for a successful West African Society for Parenteral & Enteral Nutrition (WASPEN) 2023 Conference, the Convener, Dr Teresa Pounds, paid a courtesy visit to the Managing Director and Publisher, Pharmanews, Pharm. (Sir) Ifeanyi Atueyi, ahead of the event slated for 20 to 21 June, 2023.
Dr Pounds, who is also NAPPSA president, said everything is set for the commencement of the conference on Tuesday, as prominent clinicians have been invited to lead discussion on special nutrition support for hospitalised patients in the country.
Top among invited guests for the conference are Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi; Pharm. (Mrs) Clare Omatseye; Director General, NIPRD, Dr Obi Adigwe; Dr Leo Egbujiobi; Mrs Abike Dabiri, and others.
Participants at the conference, she said will include physicians, pharmacists, nurses, dieticians, government officials, decision-makers, and other stakeholders, coming together to address one aspect of patient care, which is nutrition.
Speaking about the vision of WASPEN, she disclosed it was established to bridge the gap in nutrition support for hospitalised patients, who cannot feed normally.
“I’m particular about nutrition support for hospitalised patients, who cannot eat the way normal people eat, who have to be fed artificially, or force-feed. So that is the specialised nutrition support I’m talking about.
“For this to be effectively done, we need to have a system in place to assess the nutrition status of patients immediately they are admitted into hospitals, decide on the type of nutrition they need, and make the products available and affordable for them. That is the vision that birthed WASPEN conference”, she revealed.