The Dialogue on Diabetes and Depression African Nursing Training Programme: A Collaborative Training Initiative to Improve the Recognition and Management of Diabetes and Depression in Sub-Saharan Africa

The Dialogue on Diabetes and Depression (DDD) is an international collaborative effort to address the problems related to the comorbidity of depression and diabetes. The Association for the Improvement of Mental Health Programmes, a Swiss-based NGO, established the DDD to raise awareness, coordinate research, develop training materials, and organise scientific meetings and training courses. The DDD developed the Diabetes and Depression African Nursing Training Programme in collaboration with the International Council of Nurses to address identified needs of nurses in Sub-Saharan Africa to whom the delivery of primary healthcare often devolves. An international faculty of experts delivered the educational programme to nurses from seven countries in Sub-Saharan Africa and involved over 175 participants, most of whom have responsibility for the education or in-service training of nurses. Participants appreciated the programme - especially the opportunity to enhance their knowledge of these two common disorders and to practice new skills to recognise and manage comorbid conditions. This programme is an example of a unique and innovative educational effort regarding comorbidity with a practical clinical approach. It enables nurses to screen, recognise and treat diabetes and depression in Sub-Saharan Africa by promoting a patient-centred collaborative approach model with early recognition and management of these comorbid conditions in order to improve outcomes and life expectancy in this population.