A physically ill person is prone to anxiety. When eyes and eyesight are involved, and if surgery is recommended, the patient experiences high levels of stress.
During hospitalisation this anxiety and stress lead to numerous questions about treatment and hospital services.
Often the medical and nursing staff do not have time to counsell patients. Recognising that assuaging the patients' fears is important to a healthy outcome, Aravind trains and employs a special cadre of staff as Patient Counsellors.
They are trained to understand patients' emotions, to help them cope with their problems and use available resources, and to make them feel comfortable. Counsellors play a vital role in reducing the stress and mental strain of the patient, and especially in enhancing their cooperation at the time of surgery.