60 nurses from Bengaluru’s Namma Clinics have been equipped with advanced skills to manage psychoactive substance use, through a workshop conducted by (NIMHANS).
Dr Nattala who led the training session adds, “substance abuse is a significant public health issue and training nurses in namma clinics, address issues at the community level.”
“Nurses are the first point of contact for patients in healthcare settings. By equipping them, they can play a crucial role in early identification and intervention,” she adds.
Dr Nattala, emphasising the importance of this training, states, “We are now enabling nurses to identify and address substance use issues, which are often the cause of health problems.”
The workshop, on Wednesday, 22 November, centred around integrating substance use interventions with everyday health advice, aimed to bridge a crucial gap in health education.
“Our training specifically targets educating women about the risks associated with tobacco use, particularly during critical phases like pregnancy and breastfeeding,” explains Dr Nattala.