Updates from the Red Ribbon Express

[Guest guest]

Dear All,

A small update on the coaches of RRE: The Red Ribbon Express will consist of

seven coaches as follows:

1. Coach I, Exhibition: The Bio-Medical Aspect of HIV AIDS:

Objective is to increase correct knowledge on the bio-medical

aspects of HIV and AIDS to enable audiences to feel comfortable with

the issue, perceive relevance as well as their own vulnerability.

2. Coach II, Exhibition: Invitation to lead a Healthy Life:

Objective is to provide information of a host of HIV related

services to convince audiences of a `life after HIV' in the context

of overall good health leading to availing of services/ adoption of

safe behaviour. It will focus on HIV/AIDS linked to NRHM (National

Rural Health Mission) programmes, such as PPTCT (Prevention of

Parent to Child transmission) services, Condom Promotion, ART (Anti

Retroviral treatment), HIV-TB co-infection etc.

3. Coach III, Exhibition: A Positive Social Environment: Objective

is to sensitize people on the human and social dimensions of HIV and

AIDS to reassure audiences of a positive and non-discriminatory

attitude towards HIV and build the foundation for social inclusion

within the socio-developmental context (inter-sectoral/

mainstreaming approach).

4. Coach IV, Auditorium cum Conference: It will have arrangements

for orientation/ sensitization of selected groups such as PRIs

(Panchayati Raj Institutions), AWWs (Anganwadi workers), SHGs (Self

Help groups), youth and women.

5. Coach V, Counseling cum Medical Services: It will have six cabins-

4 counseling cabins and two doctor's cabins for providing

counseling and syndromic treatment for STI and RTI cases. There will

be no HIV testing facility on board. However, provisions for

referral services to the nearby ICTC (Integrated Counselling and

testing center) and other care & support services on HIV/AIDS will

be ensured.

6. Coach VI, Sleeper coach: In this coach 50 performer's team from

NYKS (Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan) will be traveling.

7. Coach VII, Office, Dinning cum pantry

Please find out when is the RRE is arriving in a railway station near your town.

The travel itenary of the train is available on the following webpage

http://www.nacoonline.org/upload/Documents/RREroutemap.pdf

Dr Umang Kochhar

e-mail: <umangfms@...>