An important part of the psycho-social support consists in providing information and adequate training for the affected population through lectures, newspaper articles, radio and TV interviews. So far, nearly 250 Red Cross workers and volunteers have been trained in counselling skills and have provided psychological support to about 15,000 people. About 8,000 local people have attended general information sessions. Some are counselled by telephone and many more are reached through the mass media. Usually, the psychological support is provided by local Red Cross staff and volunteers at medico-social centres, at sites where the Red Cross Mobile Diagnostic Laboratories are situated or at people's homes.
People often come full of anxiety and tension.
We are doing our best to help them and reduce the impact of these negative feelings. When people are told that they have thyroid nodules and referred for further examinations, they are very scared of developing cancer - a natural human reaction. Fear for their health and for the future of their children is one of the most acute psychological problems in adult population. During our field trips to the affected areas we always try to give both practical medical advice as well as psychological support. We know that people in the rural areas are waiting for us and come to us willingly to share their concerns with us.