Kerala - Kochi   

Red Ribbon Express provides counselling to many

Photo: Vipin Chandran

Creating awareness: Visitors to the Red Ribbon Express at Ernakulam South railway station on Friday. —

KOCHI: Over the past six days that the Red Ribbon Express has been in the State, 77 people have sought medical services for sexually transmitted infections.

The Express that had stopped at four major stations starting from Thiruvananthapuram before reaching here had over 1,000 people taking counselling sessions on the train, with 230 people coming in at Alappuzha in one day. Overall, there were 20,000 visitors to the Red Ribbon Express that has on display educational material, interactive touch screens and three-dimensional models.

HIV/AIDS is a communicable disease that can be prevented if people take necessary precautions, said P. K. Sreemathy, Minister for Health, addressing the inaugural function on the occasion of the Red Ribbon Express’ arrival here. The stigma attached to HIV/AIDS is so strong it is very difficult to make people understand that the disease will spread only if people indulge in reckless lifestyle.

The Health and the Education Department had to work overtime addressing the issue of HIV positive children’s admission to a school in Pambady, she said.

A number of youth organisations and women’s organisations are partners in the campaign, which itself makes it a success, she said.

The minister said the railway station here would soon have a Jyothis counselling centre like the one at the Thiruvananthapuram station. The centre will also conduct tests for HIV/AIDS.

The train spreading awareness on HIV/AIDS is stationed at platform number 5 of Ernakulam Junction. No platform ticket is necessary to visit the train.

The exhibition will be on from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday after which the train will proceed to Shornur.

P. S. Shyla, district panchayat president presided over the function held at the railway station on Friday. Mercy Williams, Mayor; N. A. Mani, Corporation Council Standing Committee chairman, Health; Dr. M. Radhakrishnan, Superintendent, General Hosptial; Dr. M. S. Sasikala, Deputy DMO and othersspoke on the occasion.

District Collector M. Beena earlier welcomed the gathering.

K. T. Remani, District Medical Officer, proposed a vote of thanks.

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