1 Dec : As the world is observing the 20th AIDS day today, a massive campaign is underway in the country to create awareness about the deadly disease. The World Health Organisation has urged the member states to scale up the awareness and preventive measures. India has nearly 2.5 million HIV positive cases and half of them are women. Andhra Pradesh has the largest number of AIDS cases which is nearly 4.8 lakh. A function was held in the capital today by National AIDS Control Organisation to mark the end of Red Ribbon Express campaign which travelled to different parts of the country during the year for spreading AIDS awareness.
AIR Correspondents Hemant Pathan and Anjali Ojha report that The Red Ribbon Express started its countrywide AIDS awareness campaign from New Delhi on this day last year. It traversed through length and breadth of the country reaching out 180 districts in 21 states besides some Union Territories. The novel way of campaign caught attention of the common people who turned in large numbers to see the exhibitions which included posters and cultural shows besides street plays to drive home the message about AIDS awareness. Much more needs to be done to fight the deadly virus as the World Health Organisation’s slogan this year also exhort- Lead-Empower-Deliver, focusing on the vulnerable sections of society.