To commemorate of the International Nurses Day, Roche Diabetes Care (RDC) has launched the “ Nurses on Diabetes” (NOD) online course to upskill nurses with latest diabetes management techniques.

The programme was in commemoration of the International Nurses Day, marked May 12, yearly, to remind the world of the value nurses bring to the healthcare system and to recognise their greater social and economic impact.

Despite nursing’s vital role in healthcare service delivery, it often does not get its due credit and acknowledgment.

The official theme for International Nurses’ Day in 2024, “Our Nurses. Our Future,” specifically highlights the economic power of care, and for diabetes solutions companies like Roche Diabetes Care (RDC), the contribution nurses make to patients is undeniable, particularly in Africa – a continent characterised by socioeconomic inequalities in access to care for patients.

In this context, RDC has launched the “ Nurses on Diabetes” (NOD) online course to help address the gaps.

In Africa, where healthcare resources are limited, nurses are the front line for patients managing diabetes.

The Roche NOD online course is 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.

Assistant Chief Nursing Officer, at Federal Medical Centre, Nigeria (Abuja),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.

“For example, a 15-year-old boy was recently rushed into the ICU in our hospital facility. He was unconscious with a GCS of 5T/15 and in obvious respiratory distress. He was intubated and placed on mechanical ventilatory support and a multi-parameter monitor.

“He was swiftly placed on a Correctional scale with soluble insulin and his vital signs were closely monitored. My training equipped me to respond timeously and save a young life.”

Currently operational in South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, and India, the NOD programme successfully embodies the Roche commitment to empower nurses. According to Roche representatives, upskilling nurses will be instrumental in addressing widespread barriers to care. These nurses connect with local communities and also empower them through education, potentially yielding significant societal and health-economic benefits.

Significantly, the NOD course also offers comprehensive education and coaching elements for holistic diabetes management.

Assistant Director of Nursing Service at Federal Medical Center Nigeria (Abuja), Joy Chioma Nwankwo explains some of NOD’s impact to date: “Nurses who have participated in the NOD programme thus far have acquired valuable skills and knowledge regarding the management of diabetic patients.

“Nurses are taught to easily observe the signs and symptoms of diabetes in patients that access care in our facility – especially those working in the emergency unit, medical and surgical wards.

“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.”

Also, Area Head IMEA 3, Roche Diabetes Care,Susan Snell said: “Nursing training solutions are for everyone, as they have far-reaching benefits – to patients, the economy, and society at large.

“This complements Roche Diabetes Care’s commitment to improving access to care by supporting all aspects of care including education.

“Notably, concurrently 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. ”

On International Nurses’ Day, Roche Diabetes Care urges stakeholders, including governments, healthcare organisations, and philanthropic entities, to recognise the importance of investing in nurse education and to support initiatives like NOD to improve diabetes care across Africa.