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Action on Diabetes (AoD) has announced the launch of the accredited Diabetes Education programme, developed in partnership with College of the North Atlantic-Qatar (CNA-Q) and Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) to develop expertise in the field of diabetes in Qatar. |
The Fundamentals of Diabetic Education programme, based on education modules according to the guidelines of the International Diabetes Federation, will provide diabetes educators with the skills and knowledge required to specialise in the field of diabetes education.
On completion of the six-month course, graduates will have a solid foundation in diabetes care management and be able to apply the skills and abilities needed to practise safely and effectively. In addition, they will be able to plan, deliver and evaluate patient education on the condition.
Those taking part in the programme will have the high level of communication skills and ethical and professional competence needed to work with patients who may be feeling confused and distressed about the impact of diabetes on their lives. The course will be conducted over two three-hour evening sessions per week, supplemented with clinical practice at the national diabetes centre in HMC.
Herluf Nis Thomsen, programme manager of AoD, said: “AoD has launched a number of initiatives to help tackle diabetes in Qatar, from training programmes and mobile clinics to awareness campaigns designed to benefit both healthcare professionals and community members.The new programme will provide participants with a solid foundation in diabetes care management and education, enabling them to apply the skills needed to practise safely and effectively in their local area.”
The launch of the new programme highlights Action on Diabetes’ commitment to improving the skills and expertise of diabetes educators in Qatar. Diabetes is one of Qatar’s greatest health challenges and is estimated to
affect 16.7% of citizens. The introduction of the Diabetes Education programme
is a key part of the strategy being
implemented to help the health authorities tackle the diabetes problem in Qatar.
Manal Othman, senior diabetes educator, HMC, said: “Greater education and awareness are critical if we are to collectively meet the diabetes challenge in Qatar. The launch of this programme represents an important step forward in building local capacity to reduce the burden of this disease. We are pleased to lend our expertise in supporting the development of high-quality health professionals able to provide evidence-based diabetes care.”
Irene O’Brien, dean, School of Health Sciences at CNA-Q, added: “We offer a range of courses that are designed to develop professionals and help people reach their full potential. We are proud of our work with AoD and have developed a programme for the people of Qatar that will enable them to gain a valuable qualification in diabetes education.”
The new training sessions are part of a wider awareness programme led by AoD in its goal to prevent the condition and limit its spread. Previous campaigns include the Ramadan Awareness campaign as well as Workplace Health campaign.
