Red Ribbon Exp to reach Sonebhadra on July 17

VARANASI: The Red Ribbon Express, moving across the country to sensitise and educate the masses about HIV/AIDS, will reach Chopan railway station of Sonebhadra district on July 17.
According to chief medical officers of Sonebhadra district, G K Kuril, the Red Ribbon Express will be accorded a grand welcome in the district. In the presence of UP health minister Anant Mishra, a colourful function would be organised at Chopan on the same evening.
Besides the performances by the teams moving with the train, an exhibition by health, women and social welfare, education and other departments would also be held, he said, adding the Red Ribbon Express would stay at Chopan till July 19 evening.
The train is an initiative of the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) in collaboration with National Rural Health Mission (NRHM), the ministry of Railways, UNICEF, Hindustan Latex Family Planning Promotion Trust (HLFPPT) and the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation.
The Red Ribbon Express is reaching Sonebhadra district in the second phase of the campaign. The first phase was launched in 2007-2008 when the train had covered over 9.000 kms in UP. The second phase was launched in New Delhi on December 23, 2009, and would culminate at the same place on November 29, 2010, after travelling 25,000 kilometres and covering 152 railway stations in 22 states.
After staying at Chopan, the train would leave for Jharkhand.
The Red Ribbon Express would re-enter UP on August 29, 2010, to travel through Allahabad, Varanasi, Zafrabad, Akbarpur, Ballia, Mau, Bhatni, Nautanwa, Ayodhya, Amethi, Rae Bareli, Barabanki, Hardoi, Bareily and Saharanpur to halt in Lucknow till October 10. In this phase, the focus is more on eastern UP and semi-urban, urban areas and even blocks to ensure maximum reach of the message.
The campaign is aimed at sensitising and educating the general population, especially the youths, women groups, adolescent students from schools and colleges, public representatives, defence forces personnel, out of school youths and aanganwadi workers.
Kuril said that the train has eight coaches out of which four have been dedicated to exhibitions of educational material on HIV/AIDS complete with interactive touch screens and 3-D models. He added that one coach has been designed as training hall while one other is being utilised for counselling and HIV test facility. The Red Ribbon Express will also conduct on-platform activities at each stations like cultural performances, plays and skits by Yayawar Rangmandal Theatre Group on the themes based on HIV/AIDS.