The Red Ribbon Express, the AIDS awareness train which was flagged off by Mrs. Sonia Gandhi on December 1st, 2007 in New Delhi has traveled through the length and breadth of the country and is to reach Chandigarh Railway Station on November 16th, 2008. The train shall be parked on platform 5 and will be in Chandigarh on November 16th & 17th, 2008. This Red Ribbon Express carries 3 coaches with explicit exhibition material including interactive touch screens through which all information regarding HIV/AIDS can be obtained.

The coaches 4 & 5 will have trained Doctors & Counselors to treat and counsel the public about sexually transmitted infection and HIV/AIDS. They will also provide sensitization and training to identified groups of people and youth.

Coach 5 & 6 contain out reach volunteers from Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS) who shall travel on cycles to carry the awareness message to the urban slums and villages of UT, Chandigarh. Reports shall be compiled daily and submitted to NACO. Feedback forms will be filled by all visitors to the train.

It is expected that more than 15000 people will visit the train. The District Level Organizing Committee under the chairmanship of the Deputy Commissioner, Chandigarh is coordinating all the activities. The implementing agencies are State AIDS Control Society, UT, Chandigarh and Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS).

This is an excellent opportunity to strengthen people’s awareness about HIV/AIDS and the public is requested to visit the station on November 16th & 17th, 2008 to derive benefit from the Red Ribbon Express Train.