Red Ribbon Express in Udupi from today

Red Ribbon Express in Udupi from today

Udupi Feb 19: The ‘Red Ribbon Express’ aimed at creating awareness on HIV/ Aids will start its two-day campaign in Udupi district at Indrali Railway Station on February 19.
 

Speaking to the media persons here on Wednesday, Deputy Commissioner P Hemalatha said that the train has 6 compartments with each compartment specifically designed to disseminate awareness on the virus. It has started the campaign from Delhi on December 1, 2009 and will end up back at Delhi on December 1, 2010. The Express is intending to cover about 25,000 kilometres across the country. Subsequently, it travels through 160 districts and 10,000 villages in the country, she added.

The 5th compartment is exclusively meant for special training for the teams comprising 4 to 5 volunteers. The 6th compartment is reserved for counselling and free medical check up.

Compartments from 1st to 4th comprises awareness exhibition on HIV/ Aids. Besides, it offers information on diseases like H1N1, TB and RCH.

Two buses will simultaneously ply to all the Gram Panchayaths of Udupi district creating awareness on social stigma attached to the disease. College students, Sthree Shakthi Groups Anganawadi teachers, SHGs, Gram Panchayath members all will be part of the awareness campaign. NGOs will be involved. A group of folk artists will elaborate the dreadful consequences of the disease through song and dance sequences. About 4,000 people are expected to visit the express everyday. Udupi is very much close to red zone. It is heartening to notice that all the newborns to the infected mothers in the district are free from the virus, Hemalatha said.

The Red Ribbon Express is a joint project of KSAPS, UNICEF and NACO.
District Aids Prevention Unit Programme Implementation Officer Dr H Ashok was present at the press meet.

Courtesy- Deccan Herald