The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Visakhapatnam News : City doctor eyes Guinness record

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Sunday, Nov 29, 2009
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Visakhapatnam

City doctor eyes Guinness record

Staff Reporter

World’s largest red ribbon to be displayed on Dec. 1

VISAKHAPATNAM: Noted physician Kootikuppala Surya Rao is all set to break the Guinness Book of World Records for the largest red ribbon ever displayed.

Announcing his decision at a media conference on Saturday, Dr. Surya Rao said the largest red ribbon ever was displayed in Durban in South Africa on December 1, 2008. The ribbon which was 90 m long and 32.25 m wide had made it to the Guinness Book. “I plan to beat that record with a much longer and wider red ribbon,” he said.

The objective of the World AIDS Day was to create awareness about the disease, remove the stigma attached to it and against alienation of HIV patients.

He appealed to parents and school managements to send their children to the programme so that they get to know more about the disease and take precautions to prevent its spread.

Dr. Surya Rao said this was the first time in the last 50 years that an adjudicator from the Guinness Book, Damien Field, was coming to the city for certifying an event. The huge red ribbon would make heads turn and arouse curiosity of passers-by and make them know about the disease.

Convener of the Forum for Better Visakha E.A.S. Sarma, who was also present at the media conference, said 2.5 million people in India were affected by AIDS.

The unfortunate thing was that 80 per cent of them were in the 18 to 25 years age group. He called for safe sex, safe behaviour and safe blood donation to check the spread of AIDS.

The ribbon would be displayed at the R.K. Beach from 10 a.m. on December 1.

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