[1]Tamil Nadu assembly speaker D. Jayakumar on Thursday urged the members of public to visit the Red Ribbon express scheduled to arrive Chennai, this Sunday.
Stressing that society should ideally be free of AIDS, the Speaker urged the public to utilise the initiative of the National AIDS Control organisation to clarify their doubts related to AIDS and other health issues.
He also kick started a cycle rally and an outreach programme aimed to educate public on AIDS control.
According to Tamil Nadu AIDS Control Society sources, the Red Ribbon express train that started from Kerala has visited seven district in Tamil Nadu including Kanyakumari.
Chennai will be the ninth district and the train will subsequently leave to neighbouring Andhra Pradesh.
“The visitors can have free testing in the train and those who report positive for HIV will be counselled and directed to the nearby medical centre for further treatment.
The test results can be availed within twenty minutes and the train will educate the visitors on incidence of AIDS”, said deputy director Ms Divya Ramalingam.
The train with eight coaches will carry exhibit panels in Tamil and slogans counselling protecting from AIDS, she added.
Mr A.C. Mohandas, project director, Tansacs and Chennai district collector S. Jayandhi also took part. Earlier in the day about 500 volunteers and SHG members took part in a procession.
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