Roche Diabetes Care (RDC) has trained Nigerian nurses on the latest diabetes management techniques to ensure efficient service delivery in the healthcare system.
RDC said the upskilling which took place as part of the International Nurses Day with the theme: “Our Nurses, Our Future”, reminded the world of the value nurses bring to the healthcare system and recognizes their greater social and economic impact.
During the training, RDC launched the “Nurses on Diabetes” (NOD) online course geared at overcoming barriers to healthcare education to bolster healthcare’s first line of defense. The programme goes beyond clinical education, incorporating coaching elements to promote a holistic approach to diabetes management.
The area head of IMEA 3, Roche Diabetes Care, Susan Snell, said the training „complements Roche Diabetes Care’s commitment to improving access to care by supporting all aspects of care including education. Investing in nurse education benefits individual patients that helps them understand their diabetes better, bring changes in their behavior and take charge of their diabetes management.”
The assistant director, Nursing Service, Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Abuja, Nwankwo Joy Chioma, said nurses who have participated in the NOD programme thus far have acquired valuable skills and knowledge regarding the management of diabetic patients.
“Nurses can now efficiently study and analyse patients’ laboratory results and categorise patients according to the stage of the disease. The knowledge acquired from the NOD programme has also enabled the nurses to engage in meaningful discussions with other healthcare providers. This has translated to making accurate diagnosis and implementing more comprehensive treatment plans for patients.”
During the training, FMC’ assistant chief nursing officer, Dorcas Daniel Kajang, said “NOD has expanded my knowledge and strengthened my understanding of the recent studies done on diabetes. The diabetes training has afforded me the opportunity to relearn and unlearn and has equipped me to deliver high-quality nursing services that meet international best practices regarding caring for clients with diabetes.”
Currently operational in South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, and India, the NOD programme successfully embodies the Roche commitment to empower nurses. Significantly, the NOD course also offers comprehensive education and coaching elements for holistic diabetes management.