A special AIDS/HIV awareness campaign train called Red Ribbon Express (RRE) train will be arriving Mumbai on Wednesday March 14 at CST Station, platform no13. The RRE train project is being implemented by Ministry of Health & Family Welfare with the objective of increasing awareness and improving access to services for HIV/AIDS and communicable diseases including TB, malaria and to increase access to reproductive and child health primarily in rural areas of the country.
The RRE which will be in Mumbai on March 14 and 15 will be inaugurated by Suresh Shetty, health minister, Government of Maharshtra, Bhushan Gagrani, health secretary, Government of Maharshtra on March 14 at 11:00 am for public.
The express train, which was flagged off in the second week of January from Delhi as a part of the third edition of HIV/AIDS awareness campaign, is on a nationwide journey crossing 23 states, covering 162 halt stations to create awareness about the global scourge especially among the youths.
Dr Harish Pathak, additional project director, from Mumbai District AIDS Control Society (MDACS), said, “In spite of the reducing HIV prevalence in Mumbai, there is a need to continuously update the people about information on HIV AIDS. This year we have adopted a unique way by going beyond the usual posters and pictures, as the coaches will have touch screens and 3-D models to disseminate information.”
He further said that the special Red Ribbon Express with six coaches would have several interactive ways to inform people about the disease as well as counseling. While three coaches will be dedicated to exhibition on HIV/AIDS, fourth coach will have exhibits on tuberculosis, malaria, reproductive and child health services, general health and hygiene.
“With the launch of RRE we want to disseminate information regarding primary prevention and services and develop an understanding about the infection to reduce stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV/AIDS. We want to strengthen people’s knowledge about the measures to be taken to prevent HIV/AIDS and adopting preventive health habits and Lifestyle,” said K Shyama Prasad, joint director, IEC, NACO.
“We are targeting youths from college and out of college between the age group of 15 to 49 years; women groups such SHGs, uniformed personnel, ANM, health service providers, transport unions who are majorly from the migrant population, adolescents/student from schools & colleges such as NCC, NSS; with the RRE Campaign,” he added.
Coach 6 would also have the facility for testing the prevalence of HIV and other sexually transmissible infections. People would also be advised about the treatments of such infections. A coach is dedicated to orientation and sensitization of local stakeholders. Coach five is targeted towards training audiences from different fields such as NCC, B Ed teachers, ANMs, police personnel, NYK and other such batched.
A batch will have 60 people trained at a time and they are trying to have six to eight batches in a period of two days. Once trained, the audience will carry back information to their respective communities.