Title - Red Ribbon Express to arrive in Kolar tomorrow

The Red Ribbon Express, travelling across the country to spread awareness about HIV/AIDS, will arrive in Kolar on Friday (April 20), said District AIDS Surveillance Officer Dr Jagadish.

“The train, which left New Delhi on January 12, the National Youth Day, will halt at 162 places in 23 states. It is an effort to make known to the people the basic facilities available to prevent the spread of HIV,” he said, addressing a press conference in the City on Wednesday.

“It is important to avoid a sense of stigma while handling HIV infected persons. It is therefore necessary to ensure the public is aware about the ways the infection spreads,” he added.

The Red Ribbon Express came to Karnataka on April 2 and will stop at eight places till April 22.

“The train will have four coaches with displays, three of which will be on the subject. The fourth coach will have and exhibition on the National Rural Health Mission. The fifth coach will hold training programmes for officers and representatives of the panchayats. The sixth will have counselling sessions and even treatment to sexually transmitted infections,” said Dr Jagadish.

“This time, we have a special provision for people unable to visit and have a look at the exhibition or make use of the facilities in the train. An awareness vehicle and folk artiste troupes will visit villages and continue the work of the Red Ribbon Express. The youth, women’s self-help groups, college students, gram panchayat members and all employed persons whose work timings clash with that of the Express will be reached,” he explained.

Awareness rallies

A bike rally has been organised on April 19 for a similar cause. Staff of the Health Department and Self-help Groups will participate in the rally which will start at 4 pm on Thursday from the Deputy Commissioner’s office and travel through major streets of the City, said the officer and invited interested citizens to participate in the rally.

“Two bus rallies will also be organised in the rural areas of four taluks of the district. The rally will be in Tekal from 11.30 am to 1 pm and in Masti from 3.30 pm to 5 pm. Similar trips will be organised in Vemagal and Kyalanur. Folk art troupes will also visit the villages on April 19.”

Dr Jagadish explained that ICTC mobile vans will be provided at villages through which the bus rallies travel. People will be counselled and even provided facilities for blood tests.

The campaign on April 20 will be flagged off by Union Minister of State for Railways K H Muniyappa at 9.30 am. The inaugural programme will be chaired by District In-charge Minister R Varthur Prakash. Zilla Panchayat president Manjula will inaugurate the exhibition. All legislators in the district are invited for the inauguration, he added.

District Health Officer B G Prakash Kumar was present.