Jammu, January 04 (Scoop News) –Stressing greater need to spread awareness and promote services on HIV/AIDS across the state among common masses, the Minister for Health, Horticulture & Floriculture, Sham Lal Sharma called upon the officers, local public, representatives, field functionaries of different departments and all other stakeholders to put on their sincere and dedicated efforts to initiate a comprehensive campaign to mobilize people against this life consuming disease.
Inaugurating the Red Ribbon Express (RRE), a mobile multimedia supported exhibition on HIV/AIDS at Udhampur Railway station on Wednesday, the Minister said that elected public representatives, Anganwari workers, health functionaries and students should share their noble responsibility in spreading the message regarding prevention and control of dreaded disease, AIDS in their respective jurisdictions.
The Red Ribbon express is an initiative of the National Aids Control Organizations (NACO) in collaboration with National Rural Health Mission (NRHM), Ministry of Railways and other key government ministries.
The Minister said, “Let us strive together to make our society and country a healthy and prosperous nation by achieving excellence in every field and leading our lives based on moral values”. He hoped that Red Ribbon Express at Udhampur Railway Station would prove a great help in disseminating information, developing and understanding about the disease to reduce stigma and discrimination against the people living with HIV/AIDS and help public to adopt preventive health habits and life style. He urged upon the heads of various institutions and parents to facilitate the students to visit the railway station and witness the exhibition in the RRE to gather the awareness on the HIV/AIDS. He said students are the real ambassadors to spread the awareness amongst others; hence they must be educated about this dreaded disease.
MLA Balwant Singh Mankotia and Krishan Chander Bhagat also spoke on the occasion and lauded the efforts of National AIDS Control Organization for creating mass awareness about the most challenging disease of the world. They hoped that the innovative initiative through this exhibition train would go a long way in educating the people about the dreaded disease, AIDS.
The Train consists of six coaches depicting cause of spreading of AIDS, preventive information and training in health care. The Exhibition on Train would remain open for public for two days at Railway station Udhampur.
A colourful cultural programme on AIDS awareness was also presented by the folk artists and students of different educational institutions which were highly appreciated by the audience.
Earlier, Project Director J&K AIDS Control Society, Dr. Rakesh Khajuria in his welcome address outlined the aims and objectives of the RRE.
DIG, Udhampur-Reasi Range, Jagjit Kumar, Deputy Commissioner, P.K Pole, Director Indian System of Medicines, Dr. Abdul Kabir, Controller Drugs & Food & Control Organization, Satish Gupta, Director Health Services, Jammu, Dr. Madhu Kullar, Head of different departments, District Officers, representatives of various political parties sarpanches, panches, prominent citizens, field functionaries of different departments, heads of educational institutional and students were present on the occasion.