Title - Train tips to fight AIDS

Paramilitary jawans and police personnel will be trained on board the Red Ribbon Express at Siliguri Junction next week to carry out campaigns against the spread of HIV/AIDS in border districts where sexually transmitted diseases are mostly prevalent. The training will be imparted to 360 people in uniform from across north Bengal on August 5 and 6 on the train that was launched in 2007 to spread awareness on HIV/AIDS. Siliguri MLA Rudranath Bhattacharya had recently held a meeting with officials of the North Bengal Medical College and Hospital, Northeast Frontier Railway, Siliguri Municipal Corporation and the health department to discuss the preparations for the training. "The Red Ribbon Express will be in Siliguri on August 5 and 6. On both the days, we are planning to make the most of the opportunity to spread awareness of HIV across north Bengal. Accordingly, we will invite around 360 personnel of Sashastra Seema Bal, Border Security Force and the state police from all six districts of north Bengal and train them to impart awareness of HIV/AIDS," said Bhattacharya, who is also the chairman of the Assembly standing committee on health and family welfare. The MLA said the training would help the security personnel spread awareness of the disease in the border villages known to be high-risk areas. "The six border districts have a floating population of migrant construction labourers and transport workers who indulge in unsafe sex practices. The border areas have a mixed demographic population comprising people belonging to different castes and engaged in various occupations. The region is all the more prone to the spread of HIV/AIDS because of the presence of flying sex workers and drug abusers. The paramilitary forces and police personnel will consistently disseminate awareness of the disease through their own mechanisms in the border areas," he said. The train was flagged off by the railways and the National AIDS Control Organisation in 2007 to disseminate information about the disease among people in rural areas and conduct tests on them. "The first four coaches of the train house exhibits on AIDS. The fifth and sixth compartments are used to test visitors and counsel patients. Free medicines are also distributed from the train. The exhibition will remain open for visitors from 9am to 9pm," said Partha Sil, the area manager of the NFR at New Jalpaiguri. Bhattacharya said the jawans and police personnel would be trained in three batches of 60 each in the two days. "Although the Red Ribbon Express will have NACO personnel on board, representatives of the district health department, NBMCH, SMC and local NGOs will also be present to assist them," said the MLA. Ahead of the inauguration of the exhibition on the train, a rally will be taken out in Siliguri on August 5 to spread awareness on HIV/AIDS.