CHANDIGARH, 20.01.26-The eighth two-day course on the role of nurses in the prevention and management of NCDs on the theme “Task shifting to nurse professionals” was organised by the National Institute of Nursing Education, PGIMER, in collaboration with the World NCD Federation from 19th to 20^th January, 2025. The course aimed to sensitise and prepare nurses for NCD management, enabling them to play a key role in preventing and managing these diseases. A total of 110 participants from Punjab, Chandigarh, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana and Rajasthan participated in the course.

The course was inaugurated by Prof. Vivek Lal, Director, PGIMER, Chandigarh. In his inaugural address, Prof. Vivek Lal emphasised that nurses are frontline workers and play an important role in preventing and managing diseases in hospitals and community settings. He emphasized that nurses are at par with doctors in prevention, management and rehabilitation of NCDs. Prof JS Thakur highlighted about the inception of World NCD Fed ration and its role in capacity building of Health Care Professionals including Nurses.

Dr Sukhpal Kaur, Principal, NINE, PGI, Chandigarh, reported that this is the 8^th course in the series, organised by NINE in collaboration with the World NCD Federation, and it will be a continuous feature in the coming years to empower more and more nurses regarding NCDs. She also highlighted that Nurses are the only healthcare professionals who are with most of the patients during their hospitalisation. This is the best opportunity to educate the patients and their caregivers about healthy living, as they are more receptive during hospital stay.

Dr Sushma Kumari Saini, Associate Professor, NINE, PGI, Chandigarh, chaired the panel discussion on ‘Nurse practitioner in Indian context’ Dr Naveen Kishore, WHO representative, Dr Reeta Devi from IGNOU, Dr Raman Kalia, Principal, Mata Sahib Kaur college of nursing, Dr Pushpa, Registrar, HPNRC and Ms Sunaina, Community Health Officer, were the panelists. Panel discussion concluded that the nurse practitioners can play an important role in screening, diagnosing, treatment initiation, treatment monitoring and rehabilitation of people suffering from NCDs.

Topics discussed in the course were cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, hypertension, stroke, cancer, COPD, NAFLD, CKD and mental illnesses, multisectoral action plan, NP-NCD, and population-based screening for common NCDs. Dr Kavita, Associate Professor, NINE, PGI, Chandigarh, demonstrated the use of CVD risk assessment charts to the participants, and they were also given copies to use at their respective institutions.