New Delhi, Dec 1 : On the World AIDS Day today UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi flagged off the second Red Ribbon Express, which will travel across the country to disseminate information about prevention and cure of HIV/AIDS, at Safdar Jung railway station here.
The Red Ribbon Express is an initiative to spread awareness among the masses about one of the most fatal diseases in the world, HIV/AIDS, by reaching to the people living in far flung areas.
Speaking on the occasion, Ms Gandhi said through this train knowledge would be spread to outreach places and spread awareness about the disease.
She also expressed satisfaction that the fight against AIDS is on the right track.
She opined that 'knowledge is empowerment' and it can save many lives by making people aware. ''We are committed to continue to work towards containing and reversing the HIV/AIDS pandemic,'' Ms Gandhi asserted.
The trian, in Phase-II, would halt at 152 stations in 141 districts across 22 states and would hold awareness programmes in about 10,000 villages during its year-long journey.
Addressing the gathering, Union Railway Minister Mamta Banerjee said, ''If we all work together it is very much possible to eradicate this evil from the society.'' It is necessary to provide economic as well as social security to the victims in order to wipe out the pandemic, she added.
Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad while giving the statistical information about the disease said, ''The idea behind the train was to take the information to the people residing in remote and far flung areas instead of dispensing the information while sitting in one corner.'' There are around 23 lakh HIV affected people in India.
The Health Minister said the number of HIV patients in India have been reducing significantly.
Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit while praising the initiative said the train would help in providing knowledge to the people about how to prevent and fight the disease besides how to treat affected people.
The volunteers on the train would visit the nearby residential areas and counsel the people about HIV/AIDS. There is counselling facility inside the trian.
The Red Ribbon Express is a joint endeavour of Rajiv Gandhi Foundation, National Aids Control Organisation and Railways.
No comments:
Post a Comment