Date:14/06/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/06/14/stories/2008061457860300.htm

Tamil Nadu

Red Ribbon Express arrives

Staff Reporter

DETAILS: A volunteer explaining to Collector T.N. Venkatesh aspects of an exhibit on board the Red Ribbon Express in Karur on Friday.

KARUR: The Red Ribbon Express, a train aimed at creating awareness on the menace of AIDS/HIV and the need to fight it, arrived at Karur Junction with its paraphernalia on Friday.

Welcoming the train and its passengers, who have a mission on hand, Collector T.N. Venkatesh underlined the importance of making everyone aware of the AIDS/HIV menace and drive the scourge away. He pointed out that the accompanying artistes have planned two days of cultural activities, programmes, events and seminars apart from the exhibition that was the main element of the whole exercise.

The Express is co-sponsored by National AIDS Control Organisation, Rajiv Gandhi Foundation, Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan, Railway Ministry and the UNICEF.

Mr. Venkatesh also pointed out that accompanying doctors, nurses, counsellors and others were ready to extend counselling to the public, who could have free access to the Red Ribbon Express at the Junction.

Two caravans have accompanied the Express and they would be touring 48 villages in the district on the two days the train would be stationed in Karur, he added.

There were eight phone lines for various sections of society and one could listen to aspects on the HIV/AIDS problem and its impact on the people pertaining to that category for five minutes. People should make full use of the facilities at the Express, he opined.

District Panchayat Chairman Poovai Ramesh Babu, Thanthoni Panchayat Union Chairman Bank K. Subramanian, Tamil Nadu State AIDS Control Society IED Joint Director Alex Parimalam, Joint Director of Health Services K. Govindasamy, Deputy Director K. Sadasivam and others participated.