Red Ribbon Express arrive Karnataka today

BANGALORE: Red Ribbon Express, an educative train carrying messages and exhibitions about prevention of HIV and reducing stigma against HIV positive people, will be arriving here on a 21-day journey in Karnataka. ‘The State is geared up and arrangements have been fi - nalised with preparations for the last one month. DAPCU offi cers under the direct supervisiion of District Commissioners of all the eight districts where the train is scheduled to halt have been directly making the arrangements,’ said Salma Faheem, Project Director, and Karnataka State AIDS Prevention Society in a press release here today. ‘Karnataka state response to the HIV has been appreciated all over and the state has shown enough indicators that the epidemic has been coming down. ‘But we cannot rest on our laurels and will make the best use of the train as treating HIV positive people without stigma and providing best care and treatment is high on our agenda,’ said E V Ramana Reddy, Health Secretary, Government of Karnataka. The Third edition of Red Ribbon Express will be entering Belgaum and travelling through Davangere, Dharwad, Gadag, Bidar, Bangalore, Mysore and Kolar. The renewed focus of the Red Ribbon Project-III is on the youth and hence the launch has been timed with the National Youth Day and the birthday of Swami Vivekanand. The specially designed RRE during its journey will travel through 23 States. It has already travelled through Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Goa after starting from the National Capital, New Delhi, on the International Youth Day on January 12. The train has three exhibition coaches with exhibits on HIV and AIDS while the fourth exhibition coach on National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) has exhibits on Tuberculosis, Malaria, Reproductive and Child Health services, general health and hygiene. There is one coach also on counseling and another one for conducting trainings of local stakeholders such as members of Panchayati Raj Institutions, self help groups, health workers, youth organizations, teachers, police personnel etc. ‘KSAPS has also planned on-board activities which include Interactive Exhibitions that carry messages on Health, HIV and AIDS; Sensitization and training on Health, HIV and AIDS; Counseling and testing facilities; General health check up, STI treatment and referral service and Adolescent & youth friendly Reproductive and Sexual Health Services information. The planned Outreach Activities will also have Red Ribbon uses carrying a portable version of the exhibition in the train; Counseling and testing services; Condom demonstration stalls and Inter Personal Communication through local folk media like Dollu Kunitha, Gi Gi Pada and Yakshagana by trained folk artiste troupes’ said Salma Fahim. The train will depart on April 22 to Kerala.