Lagos: Prof. Oyediran Oyewole, a Professor of Public Health Nutrition, has called for greater involvement of dietitians and nutritionists in managing Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs). Oyewole, of the Department of Health Promotion and Education, University of Ibadan, made the call on Friday in Lagos while delivering the keynote address at the 2026 Professional Retreat organized by Lagos State Health Service Commission dietitians and nutritionists. The two-day retreat, held at Lagos Island Maternity, has the theme: ‘Institutionalising Excellence in Dietetics and Nutrition Services: Strengthen Systems, Standards and Sustainability.’
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Oyewole emphasized that nutritional management should form part of comprehensive patient care, particularly for conditions requiring dietary adjustments, except during medical emergencies. He pointed out that many patients depended heavily on medications because dietary professionals were often excluded from routine evaluations and healthcare vi
sits. Oyewole stressed the need for greater synergy among healthcare professionals to ensure patients received comprehensive and effective care, noting that some routine medications could produce side effects, particularly when used over long periods, making nutritional support important.
Oyewole explained that diseases are tied to daily behavior, which relates to dietary habits. He highlighted that most diseases people battle with can be traced to their dietary behavior, underscoring the importance of nutritional management in patient care. He cited individuals with NCDs as examples, linking their conditions to behaviors and lifestyles that require appropriate dietary guidance rather than medication that may have long-term effects. He urged dietitians and nutritionists to make themselves visible within healthcare settings and intervene whenever their expertise was required to ensure comprehensive patient care and improve overall health and well-being.
The don also called on healthcare institutions to recog
nize dietitians and nutritionists as important members of multidisciplinary teams, emphasizing their expertise in managing conditions associated with nutrition, diet, and lifestyle. Speaking at the event, Dr. Olufemi Omololu, a Permanent Secretary in Lagos State Health Service Commission, urged nutrition professionals to embrace technology, conduct research, and share knowledge. Omololu spoke on ‘Building Professional Excellence for Sustainable Health Outcomes’, encouraging dietitians and nutritionists to contribute more actively to strengthening the health system.
Omololu advised professionals not to restrict themselves to traditional roles but to function effectively as team players and managers within the healthcare system. He emphasized that excellence was not merely about individual performance but about translating professional efforts into positive patient outcomes. He reiterated that developing a culture of excellence required strong leadership, adequate financing, teamwork, monitoring, and continuou
s improvement. The commission, he stated, is committed to addressing manpower shortages and establishing nutrition departments in hospitals where they are unavailable.
Dr. Omololu, the former Medical Director of Lagos Island Maternity, also pledged continued support for professional training and the provision of standardised tools and equipment required to strengthen nutrition departments across government-owned hospitals. NAN reports that dietitians and nutritionists from various government-owned hospitals across Lagos State are participating in the retreat, which is expected to end on Saturday.