Red Ribbon Express to arrive in Tiruchirapalli on June 11

Tiruchirapalli, May 18 (UNI) The Red Ribbon Express, a specially-designed seven coach train traversing across the country to cover about 9,000 km and 180 centres to raise awareness on HIV/AIDS, will arrive here on June 11, according to Tiruchirapalli District Collector T Soundiah.

Talking to newspersons after chairing a review meeting with officials to discuss the arrangements being made as part of the campaign here yesterday, he said the train was part of a nation-wide campaign by the National AIDS Control Organisation, the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation, Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan and the Indian Railways to spread the message across country on HIV/AIDS.

He said the train would be stationed here on June 11 and 12, The campaign focused on youth groups, women self-help group members, adolescents/student community from schools and colleges, youth in uniformed services and out-of-school/non-student youth, particularly in rural areas.

During the two-day halt of the train here, cultural programmes would be held in 48 villages, identified in the district by the eight-member cultural team coming as part of the campaign.

The event would also be treated as a health festival, by organising exhibitions. The cultural team would visit Thuraiyur, Thathaiyengarpet, Musiri, Pettavaithalai, Manapparai and Vaiyampatti in buses, the collector added.

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