Juliet Jacob 
RIVERS, Nigeria – The Rivers State University Teaching Hospital (RSUTH) is calling for urgent collective action to tackle the growing burden of malnutrition in Nigeria, warning that the crisis is undermining public health.
Speaking at the hospital’s 2nd Annual Malnutrition Awareness Week, Head of Nutrition and Dietetics, Dr Nkemdilim Amadi, said malnutrition “remains a hidden driver of poor health outcomes.”
“It is not limited to children in rural areas; we also see it in hospitals, especially among patients unable to eat or absorb nutrients properly,” Dr Amadi stressed.
Themed “United Against Malnutrition”, the weeklong campaign was organised in collaboration with the West African Society of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (WASPEN). It featured an awareness walk, a press conference, and public education on lifesaving nutrition interventions.
Dr Amadi urged a multi-sectoral approach: “We cannot address this challenge in isolation. Government agencies, healthcare professionals, civil society, and families all have a role to play. By prioritising nutrition, we are directly investing in healthier futures.”
Health experts highlighted the importance of intravenous parenteral and tube-based enteral nutrition in saving lives. The initiative aims to increase access and combat stigma surrounding advanced nutrition therapies.
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