Nutrition education in medical training: the need to reconsider the sacrosanctity of medical education in Nigeria

Abstract

The "no controversy" status of the important role of nutrition in maintaining good health and disease management is becoming a gold standard in medical practice. Medical schools in developed countries and some in developing countries are beginning to renew interest in nutrition education for medical professionals. Despite difficulties envisaged in modifying the medical school curricula, it is inevitable that medical professionals need some basic nutrition knowledge appropriate for medical counselling in disease prevention and management. Cost effectiveness in providing health care services is now an important policy tool, which emphasizes preventive medical care. This is dependent on good nutrition education, which informs not only on food but healthcare and good environment. This article examines the need for nutrition education in medical schools, approaches that can be used to introduce nutrition education, using the available information from medical schools that have already integrated nutrition into their medical education curricula. It also identifies some of the barriers and strategies to overcome including specific actions for nutrition educators or whoever may be saddled with the responsibilities for initiating the development of nutrition curriculum for medical education.