Two days course on prevention and management of NCDs for nurses on the theme Nurse practitioners for chronic NCDs was organized by National Institute of Nursing Education, PGIMER, Chandigarh in collaboration with World NCD Federation. Dr Arvind Rajwanshi, Dean Research, PGIMER, Chandigarh Inaugurated the event and emphasized that NCDs are major killer and nurses can play an important role in its prevention and management. He also highlighted the risk factors and role of lifestyle modification for prevention of NCDs. Dr Manju Vatsa, Principal, College of nursing, AIIMS New Delhi the Guest of honour for the inaugural function highlighted the Importance of task shifting of NCD prevention and management to nurses. Dr JS Thakur, President , World NCD Federation stressed on the nurse practitioners role for chronic NCDs. Dr Sandhya Ghai, Principal NINE reported that sensitization workshop for nurses was held last year for nurses regarding their role in prevention and management of NCDs .However the present two days course is first in the series and it will be continuous feature in coming years. The course included the role of nurses in prevention and management of chronic NCDs such as Cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, hypertension , stroke, cancer and mental illnesses. Various experts also discussed about SDGs , Human resource for NCDs, multisectoral action plan, National programme for prevention and control of Cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and stroke (NPCDCS), population based screening for common NCDs, Task shifting for chronic NCDs, mid level health worker in provision of NCD services, innovative technological approaches to address NCDs, introduction to WHO/ISH risk prediction charts and role of nurse practitioners for NCDs in different settings. Panel Discussion on the theme “ Nurse practitioners for chronic NCDs in Indian context” was chaired by Dr Sandhya Ghai in which different stakeholders from MoHFW (Dr Rathi Balachandran, ADG, Nursing), IGNOU( Dr Pity Koul, Professor), Dr Satwant Baltej Ex Faculty NINE, PGI as educationist and Dr Sunita Sharma, Lecturer, NINE, PGI participated. A pre-recorded video from WHO representative was also shown. Before starting 2nd day program a condolence meeting was held with 2 minutes silence to pay tributes to the departed soul of our revered Ex Prime Minister, Sh Atal Bihari Bajpayee who left for heavenly abode on 16th August 2018. Dr Sandhya Ghai concluded that Nursing Institutes should provide competency based training to prepare nurses to take up the role as nurse practitioner in community as well as in hospital setting. A total of 52 participants from Punjab, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh and Pondicherry participated in the course. Dr Sandhya Ghai and Dr JS Thakur were the organizing chairperson the course. Dr Kavita and Dr Sushma were the organising secretary.
