Annual Report 2009-10

The Red Ribbon Express (RRE) is the world’s largest mass mobilisation drive on HIV/AIDS. The train will travel through 22 states, during its one year long journey, halting at 152 stations. Through the RRE, NACO, intends to break the silence surrounding the issue of HIV/AIDS, by taking the messages on prevention, care and support to people living in small towns and villages across the country. The aim is also to create an environment, free from stigma and discrimination faced by people living with HIV, so they can access the services, without fear and prejudice, and live a life of dignity. It has proved to be a successful multi- sectoral initiative, of the NACO and a powerful advocacy tool, both at the state and district level, besides enhancing local capacity to deal with HIV prevention.

Table 6.1: The highlights of RRE–II coverage (till 11 March, 2010)

State | Date | Halt stations | Halt days | Persons directly reached (in lakh) | Persons trained | Persons counseled | Persons tested for HIV
Delhi | 1.12.2009 | 8 | 17 | 1.29 | 3,665 | 2,409 | 1,000
Rajasthan | 2.12.2009 to 19.12.2009
Gujarat | 20.12.2009 to 3.1.2010 | 6 | 13 | 6.03 | 3,810 | 2,317 | 1,453
Maharashtra | 4.01.2010 to 1.2.2010 | 13 | 26 | 1.27 | 5,680 | 9,027 | 4,153
Karnataka | 2.2.2010 to 22.2.2010 | 11 | 19 | 1.80 | 5,741 | 3,658 | 3,183
Kerala | 23.2.2010 to 11.3.2010 | 9 | 17 | 1.42 | 3,559 | 2,173 | 855
Total | 47 | 92 | 11.81 | 22,455 | 19,584 | 10,644

It includes visitors to train exhibition and those reached through outreach activities

about injecting drug use and unprotected sex, Radio programmes: Three radio programmes in reducing stigma and discrimination associated Hindi – “Babli Boli”, “5 Down Mohabbat Express” attached to HIV/AIDS and promoting HIV and “Kitne Door, Kitne Pass” were launched by related services. The music competitions and NACO, targeting rural women, rural youth and football tournaments organised at district level urban migrants respectively. The programmes culminated in the state level mega events, which were aired for six months from September, saw huge youth participation. 2009 to March, 2010. The duration of the each episode was half an hour and two episodes Faith based organisations were also sensitised of each programme were aired every week. and involved in the campaign. A special effort The programmes were linked to the ground was made to reach out to the out-of-school youth mobilisation in 21 vulnerable districts, in the in the states through training of youth clubs at states of UP, Bihar, Rajasthan, MP and Delhi district, block and village levels. The winners through 100 Radio Listener Clubs formed in each of the music competitions positioned as "youth of these districts. The radio clubs promoted not icons" are further reaching out with messages on only listenership of the programmes, but also HIV/AIDS to the community through road shows at helped in further dissemination of messages in village/block level in their respective districts. the communities. The SACS also produce and air

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