The Asagba of Asaba, His Royal Majesty, Professor Epiphany Chigbogu Azinge, SAN, OON, has praised the West African Society of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (WASPEN) for its commitment to combating hospital malnutrition and promoting nutritional awareness across Nigeria.
The monarch gave the commendation when the Founder and President of WASPEN, Dr. Teresa Isichei Pounds, led a delegation on a courtesy visit to the Asagba’s Palace on Monday, November 10, 2025. The visit was part of preparations for the forthcoming 2026 Clinical Nutrition Conference, scheduled to take place from June 23 to 26 at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Asaba.
Describing hospital malnutrition as a “silent but serious public health challenge,” the Asagba lauded WASPEN’s intervention as both timely and impactful. He called on government agencies, healthcare professionals, and relevant stakeholders to support the society’s efforts toward improving nutrition care in hospitals nationwide.
“It is good to see our own Asaba indigenes excelling globally and giving back meaningfully to their communities,” the monarch said. “Dr. Isichei’s work through WASPEN is a noble effort that deserves full support. I urge all stakeholders to join hands to ensure hospital malnutrition becomes a thing of the past.”
The Asagba assured the WASPEN delegation of his full support toward the success of the 2026 Clinical Nutrition Conference, noting that such initiatives not only advance healthcare delivery but also promote community development.
In her remarks, Dr. Isichei, a leading nutrition expert based in Atlanta, expressed gratitude to the monarch for his encouragement, explaining that the upcoming conference will focus on creating awareness, training healthcare providers, and developing practical solutions to hospital malnutrition.
She emphasized that the conference would provide a platform for collaboration among medical experts, policymakers, and nutritionists, while appealing for government and institutional support to ensure its success.
Earlier, Dr. Isichei and her team paid a courtesy visit to the Delta State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Joseph Onojaeme, who pledged the ministry’s full collaboration and support for the 2026 conference.
The visit concluded with the Asagba offering royal blessings to Dr. Isichei and her team, praying for continued success in WASPEN’s humanitarian and professional efforts across Nigeria and West Africa.