11/08/2025
INSIDE JUTH: SPOTLIGHT ON DIETETICS
đInterview conducted by Afiniki Ibrahim, edited by Bridget A. Omini
đ¸Photographed by Salau Ayooluwa
As part of our continued efforts to inform and engage the public about the life-saving work being done across the departments of Jos University Teaching Hospital, we bring you a special interview with the Head of the Dietetics Department, Mrs. Eugenia J. Daniel. This conversation explores the departmentâs critical contributions to patient care, addresses public misconceptions, and highlights how food, when administered properly, becomes medicine.
Q. What are the core responsibilities of the Dietetics Department, and how do they contribute to the hospitalâs daily operations?
A. The Dietetics Department is a clinical unit responsible for delivering medical nutrition therapy to patients across the hospital. We work closely with doctors and other healthcare professionals to co-manage various health conditions. Our responsibilities include: Conducting nutritional assessments, diagnoses, interventions, and education.
Producing therapeutic and complementary food packages used within and outside JUTH.
Offering nutrition support in departments like medical, pediatric, reproductive health, oncology, and more.
Training interns and dietetics students to build future capacity in clinical nutrition. Our role is crucial in ensuring that patients receive personalized nutritional care that aids recovery, boosts immunity, and enhances overall treatment outcomes.
Q. What are some common misconceptions the public may have about the role of dietitians in the hospital?
A. One major misconception is that dietitians are simply caterers or cooks. In reality, dietitians are healthcare professionals trained in clinical nutrition and dietetic science. We donât just prepare food. We prescribe diets that are tailored to each patient's medical condition. For example, we develop therapeutic diets for managing conditions like diabetes, hypertension, kidney disease, cancer, and malnutrition. While caterers focus on preparing and serving meals, dietitians use food as a form of treatment and rehabilitation.
Q. How are nutritious meals planned and prepared for patients and staff?
A. The first step in planning any meal is a comprehensive nutritional assessment. This helps us understand the patientâs condition, dietary restrictions, activity level, and overall nutritional needs. A nutritious meal is one that supplies the body with all essential nutrients, supports recovery, and promotes health. After assessment, we plan meals that are customized to meet both medical and individual need, ensuring theyâre balanced, appropriate, and healing.
This same principle applies to staff meals as well, especially when promoting workplace wellness.
Q. How do you ensure cultural food preferences are respected while meeting medical dietary requirements?
A. We take a personalized and culturally sensitive approach to diet planning. Every patient has unique preferences and backgrounds. During the assessment, we use a 24-hour dietary recall to understand what the patient typically eats, taking into account their culture, locality, religious beliefs, and personal food habits.
From there, we develop nutrition plans that are both therapeutically effective and culturally acceptable. This increases patient compliance and ensures they feel respected and cared for.
Q. What initiatives has the department implemented to improve food quality and patient satisfaction?
A. We are constantly working to improve the quality of our services through:
Production of standardized therapeutic and complementary food products.
Supervised quantification and prescription of meals, especially in specialized wards like the amenity wing. Maintenance of strict hygiene protocols in food processing, preparation, and preservation. Ongoing training and supervision of our staff to meet best practice standards.
All these measures ensure that meals provided are safe, effective, and satisfying, contributing to quicker recoveries and improved patient experience.
Q. Can you share a story where nutrition intervention significantly impacted a patientâs recovery?
A. One case that stands out is that of a severely malnourished patient who was unconscious and placed on nasogastric feeding. We immediately placed them on a high-calorie, high-protein nutrition plan tailored to their needs. Over three months, the patient fully recovered. Not only did they regain consciousness and strength, but they later expressed deep appreciation for the care they received. They even began purchasing our nutritional products for continued use at home. It was a powerful example of how clinical nutrition saves lives.
Q. What do you wish the public would better understand or appreciate about the Dietetics Department?
A. We want the public to know that dietitians are essential to healthcare delivery. Our work often happens behind the scenes, but it plays a central role in disease management, prevention, and wellness.
People should see us not just as those who prepare meals but also as professionals who use scientific, evidence-based dietary strategies to support healing and health. Food is a powerful tool, and in the hands of a trained dietitian, it becomes therapeutic medicine.
Q. What message would you like to pass to patients and visitors who benefit from your departmentâs work without ever meeting your team?
A. To every patient and visitor who has received care through our services, know that your health is at the heart of what we do.
Whether you're on a therapeutic diet, using our food packages, or benefiting indirectly from our teamâs interventions, please remember: Prioritize your health. Eat intentionally. And consult a dietitian when in doubt. Weâre here, and weâre ready to support you on your wellness journey with compassion and clinical precision.
This enlightening conversation with the Head of the Dietetics Department underscores the critical role nutrition plays in the delivery of holistic healthcare at JUTH. From designing patient-centered meals to contributing to life-saving interventions, the department remains a silent but strong force in the hospitalâs success story.
As a hospital, JUTH remains committed to excellence in patient care, and the Dietetics Department exemplifies how passion, science, and service come together for the greater good.
