Third phase of Red Ribbon Express (RRE) “eight coaches train” an HIV and AIDS awareness campaign would be arriving Dimapur on August 17 at 4am and would depart the next day at 9 pm.
This was announced during a press conference held at KPC conference hall Kohima by Dr. Nandira Changkija project director NSACS attended by John Makhabo district youth co-oordinator Kohima NYKS and Paul from NSACS.
Dr. Changkija said RRE was launched with an aim to disseminate information regarding primary prevention of HIV and services, develop an understanding about the infection to reduce stigma discrimination against people living with HIV and AIDS, strengthen people’s knowledge about it and adopting preventive health habits and lifestyle.
She said during the halt at Dimapur, there would be free health services like HIV counseling and testing, general health check-up, STI and RTI check up and treatment as well as sensitization on blood donation made available.
Dr. Changkija said that early detection of STD or STI would reduce AIDS related diseases by 40%, as Dr. Changkija said that Nagaland state is among the top 7 in the country in HIV prevalence rate where 90% infected were from the age of 15-45.
She informed that 8 train coaches would be exhibiting educational materials on HIV and AIDS, interactive touch screens & 3-D models, focus on HIV and AIDS and associated care, support and treatment services, youth educational material, display information on general health, hygiene and communicable diseases such as TB & RCH services (NRHM), auditorium cum conference, counseling cum medical services, office & dining cum pantry.
Nikhil Kumar governor Nagaland would be the chief guest of the inaugural function on August 17, 8:30am. The training sessions would be conducted at coach IV on August 17 at 10am till 5pm and next day the session will start from 9am till 5pm, she informed.
John informed that RRE Bus caravan would conduct 3 days outreach from August 16-18 with activities like drama show, street plays on health issues, mobile ICTC team, counseling and testing facilities, MMU team, free general health check-up and medicines would be conducted.
The resource persons would be present to sensitize the general public on HIV and AIDS and other health related issues. Bus caravan would cover Niuland on August 16 at 2pm, Chumukedima town on August 17 at 2pm and Medziphema town on August 18 at 2pm.
In Nagaland, the first RRE arrived at Dimapur railway station on March 10, 2008 and 6,035 people visited the HIV coaches. According to NSACS, HIV and AIDS scenario in Nagaland till June 2012 the adult HIV prevalence rate is 0.78% and out of 4, 92,321 blood screened, 13,354 were found to be HIV positive.