Red Ribbon Carnival to launch Sikkim towards Zero on HIV/ AIDS gets underway

GANGTOK, 19 Dec: The two-day Red Ribbon Carnival 2013 under the Multi Media Campaign for HIV/ AIDS awareness was inaugurated by the Governor Shriniwas Patil here at MG Marg today. The inaugural function was also attended by the Chief Minister Pawan Chamling as the guest of honor.
The two-day event has been organized by the Sikkim State AIDS Control Society [SSACS] in collaboration with Recovering Users Network [RUN]. On the occasion, the Governor also flagged off ‘Red Vehicles’ from the venue. Different drivers’ associations had decorated vehicles with messages on HIV AIDS awareness which travelled till Rangpo today. The vehicle with the best decoration will be awarded a prize, it is informed.
In his address, the Governor called for participation, commitment and cooperation from all sections to curb new HIV infections and to support people living with HIV/AIDS.
“Discriminating HIV infected persons is a barrier in controlling the HIV AIDS menace”, he said and urged everyone to share the responsibility of bringing the disease under control. He also congratulated different organizations working in this field at their respective levels.
The Governor also highlighted the need to work towards the goal set by the World Health Organization of ‘Getting to Zero’ and added that not only government but every individual should come forward to support the cause and to support the people who are working in this field.
He also appreciated of the efforts of Sikkim State AIDS Control Society and its partners for using Multi-Media Campaign as a medium of imparting knowledge about HIV and AIDS especially among the youth of the State.
The Chief Minister, in his address, stressed on the importance of learning about HIV. All organisations, youth and the state government should come together to start a movement against HIV/ AIDS, he said. Encouraging everyone to work for this cause, he assured to extend full support in this mission.
“Health Department should work in mission-mode to make Sikkim an HIV AIDS free state by 2020,” said the CM.
Earlier, the chief guest and the guest of honour felicitated four Red Ribbon Clubs for their outstanding record in the field of HIV/ AIDS mitigation. The four RRCs were RRC Melli Dara [South Sikkim], RRC Naga [North Sikkim], RRC Department of Nursing [Manipal], and RRC Tingley Secondary School [South Sikkim]. It may be mentioned here that Red Ribbon Clubs were initiated in the year 2008, and currently there are 90 RRCs in all.
A music video on Voluntary Blood Donation was also released on the occasion.
The inaugural programme commenced with a welcome address by SSACS Project Director, Dr. Uttam Pradhan. Medical Superintendent, STNM Hospital Dr. Yogesh Verma proposed the Vote of Thanks.
After the inauguration, the Governor and CM were escorted to the other end of MG Marg where an on-the-spot painting competition among students and youth was held.