Visitors galore to Red Ribbon Express

Kozhikode, July 8 (UNI) Hundreds of people, including school children, visited Red Ribbon Express, which is on a mission to arise awareness about HIV/AIDS throughout the country, at the Kozhikode Railway Station here today.

The special train exhibiting films and video games to create awareness about the dreaded disease, which reached at the platform this morning, was received by Janata Dal (S) Kerala President M P Veerendra Kumar, MP.

The train would also proceed to remote areas to conduct exhibtion on the subject today and tomorrow, programme organisers said adding two buses had been also arranged to accompany the train.

Besides, six teams from Nehru Yuva Kendra would perform at 98 places covering 24 villages, to spread awareness on AIDS, during the two days, they said.

After the two-day exhibition, the train which reached Kerala on June 28, would further proceed to Bangalore as part of its country-wide programme.

The campaign is organised by the National AIDS Control Organisation, Rajiv Gandhi Foundation, Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan and State AIDS Control Society.

United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Chairperson Sonia Gandhi had flagged off the Express in New Delhi on December one, 2007.

The train would travel 9,000 km in 24 states across the nation and halt at 180 important cities before reaching Delhi on December one, 2008.

UNI PCH GM RL RN1620