In Spite of the Rains-- the Red Ribbon Express at Faizabad

[Guest guest]

The

rain gods played havoc with the arrangements for the inauguration of the Red

Ribbon Express in Faizabad today, upsetting the arrangements for the chief

guests and the cultural function and delaying the start of the programme by

well over one and a half hours.

The

pouring rain which broke out at around 9 am in the morning upset the plans made

by the district administration for the welcome and inauguration of the train.

With the train being shunted to one corner of the station in the Yard, despite

all attempts to hastily spruce up the place, the stench from the animal yard

and the surrounding filth did little to improve the ambience. The rain in

driving sheets only made matters worse reducing the kuchcha area surrounding

the platform into a veritable swamp making it very difficult to approach the

platform.

Non

availability of any of the main platforms on the main station had necessitated

the train being shifted to the yard area which thankfully had a covered shed to

shield the visitors from the rain that poured through the day.

Finally

the formal inauguration took place at 11.30 am, one and a half hour behind

schedule with the Commissioner Faizabad division, Mr. Rajiv Kumar opening the

train to the public in the presence of the District Magistrate MP Agarwal,

Joint Director, UPSACS, Mrs Sushma Yogesh, the Chief Development Officer,

Faizabad division and others.

After

the traditional lighting of the lamp by the Commissioner and other dignitaries,

the District magistrate called upon the people to make full use of the Red

Ribbon Express while it was stationed in Faizabad. Speaking on the occasion the

Commissioner Mr. Rajiv Kumar said he had had the good fortune to see the train

on its inaugural run when he was posted in Gorakhpur division in 2007-2008.

Warning against the scourge of HIV/AIDS he said it was the social

responsibility of all citizen to spread awareness and help stem its spread.

While

the crowds were regaled by cultural artistes, the dignitaries proceeded to

launch the toll free helpline and inaugurate the train, opening it to the

Faizabad public.

The

good news however was that no fresh HIV+ case came to light at the 112 tests

conducted aboard the Red Ribbon Express today. A total of 3936 visitors came up

to view the train, 198 attended counseling, 36 underwent STI check ups, 11

underwent general health check ups and

169npeople were trained in three sessions at close of day today at Faizabad.

The

train is a nationwide initiative of NACO which has partnered with the Indian

Railways to create the Red Ribbon Express to spread awareness on HIV/AIDS and

counteract the stigma attached to the disease. The Red Ribbon Express movement

in Uttar Pradesh is being planned, monitored and coordinated by UPSACS.

The

Red Ribbon Express is covering 17

stations in Uttar Pradesh, arriving first in Chopan, Sonbhadra and moving on to

Madhya Pradesh and then returning to extensively tour UP covering Allahabad,

Varanasi, Jaunpur, Ambedkarnagar, Ballia, Mau, Deoria, Maharajganj,

Ayodhya (Faizabad) Amethi (Sultanpur)

Rae Bareli, Lucknow, Barabanki, Hardoi, Bareilly and finally Saharanpur.

In

Uttar Pradesh UPSACS has played a crucial role in the implementation,

functioning, planning, monitoring and execution of the RRE and the keenness of

the state government towards the issue can be seen in the fact that the UP

Health Minister, Mr. Anant Kumar Mishra, made it a point to be present at

Chopan when it first touched the state and then again on Sunday in Allahabad.

Red Ribbon Express

AIDS ke viruddh, India

ekjut

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www.redribbonexpressinup.blogspot.com

Email: redribbonexpressinup@...

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For further details contact: Shirin Abbas

9335231305

Augustine Veliath,Communication SpecialistUNICEF Lucknow3/194, Vishal Khand, Gomti Nagar, Lucknow 226010Phone 91-522-4093311Phone 91-5222303151 to 56Phone 91 5224093151Fax 915222303158Fax 91 522 4093157email aveliath@...website www.unicef.inUNITE FOR CHILDREN