Some of the nurses with officials at the graduation ceremony.
DOHA: The first batch of certified diabetes nurses in Qatar graduated yesterday. Qatar Diabetes Association (QDA) along with Action on Diabetes (AOD) celebrated the graduation of the nurses from its Michener Institute’s Graduate Certificate of Diabetes Education.
The QDA has been working with AOD to launch Qatar’s first accredited training programme for nurses working with diabetes patients.
The initiative has proved successful with 25 educators participating and 21 of them now certified diabetes educator nurses. The programme is the first of its kind in Qatar and the region and is administered by Canadian Michener Institute for Applied Health Science in cooperation with QDA and Calgary University-Qatar.
Sheikh Faisal bin Fahad Al Thani, Deputy Managing Director at Maersk Oil Qatar, said: “Maersk Oil is proud to support local authorities with the education and world-class international certification of select nurses. The aim of this initiative is to improve diabetes healthcare and better serve the people and residents of Qatar. On behalf of Maersk Oil Qatar I congratulate each of the graduates on their hard work and dedication.”
Dr Abdullah Al Hamaq, QDA Executive Director, expressed happiness to work with AOD on the programme where many diabetes educators in Qatar succeeded in the Graduate Certificate Diabetes Education course, and received an internationally recognised certificate, which will contribute positively to improving health educators’ skills, and thereby provide the best care techniques to diabetics and help them improve their lifestyle and increase awareness about diabetes and its preventing methods.
With an estimated 16.7 percent of the adult Qatari population between 20 and 79 having diabetes, AOD is working alongside authorities to help tackle the spread of the disease.
As part of its approach, AOD is taking insights derived from research into diabetes in Qatar and using information and knowledge to inform and educate the relevant groups, including healthcare providers and other stakeholders.
AOD was launched as a partnership between the Supreme Council of Health, Hamad Medical Corporation, Primary Healthcare Corporation, Qatar Diabetes Association, Maersk Oil Qatar and Novo Nordisk, the global leader in diabetes care.
The Peninsula
