Red Ribbon Express (RRE) RRE was a nationwide communication campaign for generating awareness about HIV/AIDS. A specially designed train traversed over , km a year, covering districts/halt stations, and held programmes and activities in , villages. It comprised of seven coaches, equipped with educational material, primarily on HIV/ AIDS, interactive touch screens and -D models, services in the context of HIV-TB co-infection, an LCD projector and platform for folk performances, counselling cabins and two doctors’ cabins for providing counselling and treatment. Fig.
. : Red Ribbon Express (RRE) Fig. . : Programme organised by Red Ribbon Express RRE started its journey from Kanyakumari, followed the ‘parikrama’ style and halted at stations and covered almost all the states of India.
During the halt at each station the performing artists divided themselves into different groups. Each group had orators and performers who went to different villages to undertake Information Education Communication (IEC) activities such as street plays, folk songs, stories and group counselling sessions. Locally mobilised youth groups joined the team from the trains. The Project was implemented by National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO), Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS) and International Agencies such as UNICEF and UNAIDS, is cooperation with Indian Railways.
It aimed to: Spread information regarding primary prevention services Develop an understanding of the disease, to reduce stigma and discrimination against people with AIDS Enhance people’s knowledge about preventive measures, health habits and lifestyle. Many methods are used in this field. In this unit, let us review some selected methods. .
Campaign is a combination of the usage of different communication methods and materials such as meetings, tours, newspaper articles, leaflets and exhibitions about a theme for a predefined period of time. It is a well organised and intensive activity. A campaign creates public awareness and provides specific message. Use of dramatics through different channels ensures attention and interest.
It lasts in the memory of the people and stimulates action. It creates conducive environment for adoption of practices. For example, to accelerate the efforts to achieve universal sanitation coverage and to put focus on sanitation, the Prime Minister of