Red Ribbon Express Starts its Kerala Tour

[Guest guest]

Dear Forum

RED RIBBON STARTS ITS KERALA TOUR WITH A ROUSING RECEPTION AT KASARGODE

Kasargod: Red Ribbon Express which arrived in Kerala with the mission of

spreading HIV, AIDS awareness was given a rousing welcome at Kasargod Railway

Station from where it started its Kerala tour.

In the presence of hundreds of people Dewaswom Minister Kadannappalli

Ramachandran formally inaugurated the state-level HIV, AIDS Awarenes

Campaign welcoming Red Ribbon Express at the Kasargod railway platform.

The inaugural function held at the railway station premises was presided over by

MLA Pallipram Balan. Adv. C.H.Kunjambu MLA was the chief guest at the function.

Kerala State AIDS Control Society Project Director Dr.K Shylaja delivered the

keynote address. Kasargod Municipal Chairperson, Beefathima Ibrahim, District

Panchayat Health and Education Standing Committee Chairman Khader Bengara,

Kerala State AIDS Control Society Additional Project Director Dr.T.V.Velayudhan,

Arogya Keralam District Programme Manager Dr. E Mohanan, Kasargod General

Hospital Supdt. Dr.M Kunhiraman, Nehru Yuva Kendra Youth Coordinator Govinda Rao

Nayak, Corporation Councillor Saibunnisa, District Information Officer K Abdul

Rahman, Kasargod Press Club President Sibi Thuvval, Kasargod Railway Station

Manager K.K.Krishnan, CPK plus President

ph Mathew, Kerala State Vyapari Vyavasayi Ekopanasamithi District

President P.A.ph and Kasargod unit President A.K.Moidheen spoke on the

occasion.

District Collector Anand Singh welcomed the gathering and District Medical

Officer Dr. G D’Cruz proposed vote of thanks.

After the inaugural ceremony Kadannappalli Ramachandran cut the ribbon to throw

open the HIV,AIDS Awareness Exhibition. The exhibition was thronged by thousands

of students, youth, anganwadi workers, health workers and general public.

Later, two life buses carrying the members of cultural troupes went into the

interior villages not connected by rail. This troupe would conduct HIV, AIDS

Awareness Programmes at three centres a day.

Besides cultural programmes, HIV, AIDS infected persons would also explain

their life experience.

After two days tour at Kasargode, Red Ribbon Express will travel to Kannur. From

Kannur, it will move to Tirur, Palakkad, Thrissur, Aluva, Ernakulam South,

Kayamkulam and Karunagapalli where it will wind up its Kerala tour.

The train comprising 10 coaches has HIV, AIDS Awareness show. It also

contains necessary facilities to train elected representatives, Anganwadi

workers, Self Help Groups (shgs), youth and women. Coach 6 of the train has

facilities for HIV testing, besides the services of doctors and counselors.

The Red Ribbon Campaign conceived and mooted by Rajiv Gandhi Foundation is being

organized with the assistance from National AIDS Control ORganisation (NACO),

Kerala State AIDS Control Society, Arogya Keralam, Nehru Yuva Kendra, Social

Welfare, Health, Education and many other state and central departments, NGOs

etc.

Regards

Ajai

--

S.Ajai Kumar

Joint Director IEC

Kerala SACS

Red Cross Road

Thiruvananthapuram - 35

Kerala, India

e-mail: <ajai.ksacs@...>