Red Ribbon Express trains for AIDS awareness

January 17, 2005

Now, Red Ribbon Exp trains for AIDS awareness

SACHCHIDANAND JHA. TIMES NEWS NETWORK [ MONDAY, JANUARY 17, 2005

02:35:32 AM ]

PATNA: National Aids Control Organisation (NACO) has decided to run

four Red Ribbon Express trans across the country to generate

awareness on HIV/Aids. A request to this effect has been made to the

railway ministry.

The move will be a part of the multi-media campaign to be launched by

NACO this month. The campaign will focus on raising competencies

against HIV/Aids for all.

Top sources in the health department here said that a Communications

Consortium, pooling-in resources and technical expertise from various

partners exclusively for HIV/Aids communication, has also been

planned by NACO. Unicef will be the facilitator for the consortium.

A wide variety of activities are planned through the consortium so

that different partners speak in the same language and work towards

the same goal of spreading HIV/Aids awareness throughout the country,

according to a senior health department official.

He said that various State Aids Control Societies (SACSs) would be

the steering forces behind this campaign.

NACO director general Dr S Y Quraishi, in a recent communication to

Project Director (PD), Bihar State Aids Control Society(BSACS) C K

Anil, said that apart from Red Ribbon Express trains, the consortium

would bring out communication software with National Aids Control

Organisation 's technical support. It includes a television soap

focusing on HIV-related issues, sources added.

Quraishi said since the goal is to reach out to all, there would also

be state-specific strategies for remote areas, including media dark

villages.

NACO has directed the PDs of SACSs to ensure that special attention

is given to women, who were less exposed to prevention messages.

He said that that the campaign required clear, evidence-backed

strategies, long-term partnership with media partners, huge advocacy

efforts and extra resources.

While stating that the Union health minister had recently announced

that the Government of India was committed to generate hundred per

cent awareness on HIV/Aids in the country within six months, Quraishi

said that the responsibility for achieving this ambitious goal rests

with the project directors of SACSs.

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