Patients Should Undergo Nutritional Screening Before Surgery To Prevent Surgery – Hannah Asante

According to a report by UTV Ghana today being Saturday, October 31, 2026, Hannah Asante has called for patients to undergo proper nutritional screening before being taken through surgical procedures, warning that failure to identify malnutrition could expose them to serious health complications.

According to her, assessing the nutritional condition of patients before surgery is an important part of medical care that should not be overlooked by healthcare professionals.

She explained that malnutrition can affect the body’s ability to respond to surgical procedures and recover properly after an operation. Patients who are poorly nourished may face additional health risks, particularly when their nutritional challenges are not identified and addressed before surgery.

Asante stressed that nutritional screening should be incorporated into the preparation process for patients scheduled to undergo operations. This, she believes, would help medical teams identify individuals who require nutritional support before proceeding with surgery.

She further indicated that addressing nutritional deficiencies early could help reduce preventable complications and improve patients’ chances of achieving better surgical outcomes.

Malnutrition remains a significant health concern because the body requires adequate nutrients to maintain normal functions, repair damaged tissues and fight infections. Patients who lack essential nutrients may experience delayed wound healing, increased vulnerability to infections and longer recovery periods.

For this reason, healthcare professionals are encouraged to pay attention to patients’ dietary conditions and nutritional needs before major medical procedures.

Asante’s comments highlight the importance of looking beyond the immediate medical condition that brings a patient to the hospital. She believes that proper nutritional assessment should form part of comprehensive preoperative care.

Her call also draws attention to the need for greater cooperation among doctors, nurses and nutrition specialists to ensure that patients receive appropriate support before surgery.

The message is that identifying and managing malnutrition before an operation could help protect patients from avoidable complications and reduce risks that may threaten their lives.