Red Ribbon Express at Solapur - Mobilizing Resources from the Private Sector

 Corporate Social Responsibility - Involvement in HIV-AIDS Programme

HIV-AIDS Programme is multidimensional and involvement of public sector and corporate sector plays important role to help strengthen services to community. IEC Activities like WAD, IYD, IWD, VBD, NYD, RRC Celebrations and special events like “RRE” “Red Ribbon Express” are held through year and provides a good opportunity for us to work with the corporate sector. The RRE visited Solapur Dist. in March 2012. The achievement of the programme has been the focus on Corporate Social Responsibility.

Process

DAPCC and Dist. Level organization committee (DLOC) decided to reach corporate sector for mobilization of crowd as well as share of funds in cash as well as any kind of material for RRE. DAPCU took special efforts and Hon Collector Mr. Gokul Mavare (IAS) provided valuable guidance and a free hand to raise the funds for RRE. Micro planning of listing out various corporate sectors was done. Major corporate sector organizations were contacted by DAPCU.

Solapur Dist. is a sugarcane belt and there are other industries like cotton, cement, steel and handloom. A few organization contacted by the DAPCU were

1. Sugarcane Industries – (Total 15 Sugar Factories, Chairman and Managing Directors contacted personally along with a letter from collector for appeal of charity funds/Donations)
2. Cotton Industry – (Total 5 cotton mills contacted)
3. ACC Cement Factory
4. Steel Industry – Distributors Dealers contacted
5. Rotary Club- Sensitization
6. Rotaract Club – Sensitization
7. Lions Club Sensitization
8. Degree colleges for youth mobilization
9. Handloom industry for – “T” Shirt , Caps provision for volunteers
10. PPP Public Private Partnership (PPP ICTC)
11. Blood Banks
12. Media Support

Achievements

With these efforts DAPCU got very good response and 42,000/- (Forty Two Thousand Rupees) through  cheques and “500” T Shirts “500” Caps for volunteers. Blood Banks and PPP (ICTC) provided refreshment in kind of biscuits (20000 packs) to RRE visitors. Within a short time DAPCU reached the corporate sector and successfully carried out the event. For RRE opening ceremony “Celebrity Presence” of TV Actress Mansi Naik & Akshar Khothari was possible due to local media relation and Mr. Pradeep Naik who was acquainted with the celebrities. DAPCU is organizing an appreciation function for these donors. They will be given a special certificate by District Collector and Memento in the form of the “RRE Clock”.

We feel this is a success story and it may help to others to get corporate sector involvement in the programme in future.                 

DAPCU specially thanks MSACS officers Shri Sunil Bhosale Finance Controller, Mr. Santosh Wani DD ICTC, and DD IEC Mr. Suhel Jamadar for guidance for event.

Red Ribbon Express at Kozhikode (Calicut)

DAPCU Kozhikode shares a few experiences regarding the RRE in their district.

District Level Organizing Committee Meeting: For the effective planning of the RRE program a District level organizing committee was formed with delegates from various departments and chaired by the District Collector Mr. K.V Mohan Kumar IAS. 

Select IEC activities

• Press conference: was conducted at Dist. Collector’s chamber and press release was given to media. On All India Radio aired RRE related content  on the news.
• On both days public announcements were made by the railway authorities inside the station. 
• The special canvassing activities were led by SACS, DAPCU and DMO Mass Media, at various institutions in Kozhikode city with the help of a hired vehicle.
• Ten wooden framed flex board and four flex banner were placed in the main spots in Kozhikode corporation area mainly : Bus stand, Railway Station entrance, beach, Palayam Bus stand, in front of General hospital and W&C Hospital. Notices were also put up in deferent places in Kozhikode city. 
• Rally: The artists and volunteers of MCF NGO conducted a rally   “Vilambara Jadha” at Kozhikode town on 24 April 2012 to announce the commencement of the RRE train.

RRE at Kozhikode

The RRE reached in second platform at Kozhikode Railway Station on 26^th morning.                    Dr. M K Appunni (ADMO, Dist. Nodal officer HIV/AIDS) welcomed all to the programme.  The Honorable Minister Dr. MK Muneer inaugurated the campaign with the chairmanship of Mr. K V Mohan Kumar IAS, Dist. Collector. The Standing committee Chairman (Health) Mrs. Janamma Kunhunni presented the key note. Dr. A Baburaj (DPM NRHM), Dr. Muhammad Elias Kunhavootty (Supdt. W&C Hospital Kozhikode), Mr. Muhammad Basheer (Station Manager Indian Railway Kozhikode) Mr. Jaison (AD-TI KSACS) facilitated the programme. Mr. Mani (Dy. Mass Media officer (Health)) delivered vote of thanks.

The dignitaries also visited the exhibition, training and counseling coaches. After this the public started utilizing the RRE. During the two days programme the district team with the help of KSACS and NACO –RRE officers could mobilize the public, the data as follows,

• Total visitors 15796
• Counseling and Testing – 347
• STI treatment- 69
• Trained- 505

Bus Caravan

Two bus caravans traveled to rural areas of Kozhikode district to disseminate awareness to areas where the train could not reach. Total 16 programmes conducted in the district the total viewers of the programme were 8765.

Mobile Blood Unit

Related with the RRE program a mobile blood unit vehicle was stationed near the platform No.1, which aimed to promote the voluntary blood donation and 77 units of blood were collected over the two days.

The facilities - Blood bank, STI, TI and RNTCP placed their kiosk at the platform to disseminate awareness through leaflets, brochures etc. During the two days food and water supplied to all RRE volunteers, Health staffs, NCC and KSACS staffs by DMO and one time food was sponsored by Kozhikode Corporation.

District NRHM, NCC, NYK, TI, ICTC, STI, ART, and DIC etc supported the programme by mobilizing visitors, arranging volunteers and logistics etc. THE DAPCU was fully involved in planning and implementation of the RRE. Kozhikode ICTC Supervisor was serving as in charge of the training coach and counseling coach of the RRE Phase III, for the Kerala state.

The total visitors and viewers of the RRE Campaign at Kozhikode were 24561. This figure indicates that the efforts under Dist. Collector and KSACS through the District Medical office-Mass Media, DAPCU, special involvements by ADMOs- Nodal Officer HIV/AIDS, NRHM and all other line departments were helpful to make the programme a success. 

Red Ribbon Express- In Vadodara - An update from the DAPCU Team

This is Vadodara DAPCU's Update on the RRE. If you would like to share your experience plase write dapcuspeak@gmail.com

RRE Reaches Vadodara - 17^th-18^th February 2012

A multi-sectoral and multi-activity social mobilization campaign on HIV/AIDS through Red Ribbon Express train was developed by Rajiv Gandhi Foundation (RGF), National AIDS Control Organization (NACO) and Nehru Yuva Sangthan (NYKS).  The first phase was launched in Dec 2007. The broad objectives of the RRE are to sensitise rural population to adopt preventive measures and follow healthy life style. The RRE is a comprehensive multi-sectoral, multi-media, multi-theme, unique and the largest campaign ever in the area of HIV/AIDS communication.

DAPCU Vadodara has been working hard towards the RRE and a few specific roles performed were:

Coordination with District Administration: The DAPCU was an integral part of the planning and coordination of RRE activities in Vadodara. Along with the district administration, the DAPCU organized and participated in the District Level Organizing Committee meeting and subsequent press conferences.

IEC: The DAPCU also mobilized NACP facility teams for publicising the RRE and conducting the Pre Arrival activities. For proper publicity of the RRE, they ensured that banners and hoardings were displayed in important rural and urban centres. Mass media advocacy and publicity through radio mirchi, and radio city as well as Doordarshan, local newspaper, local TV channels was also coordinated by the team. DAPCU gave strip messages for  telecast on cable.

Inaugural function was a DAPCU responsibility and it was ensured that prominent personalities of the district and celebrities attended it.

Mobilization: In coordination with the NYKS, NSS, NCC, Bharat Scouts & Guides as well as other NGOs, DAPCU mobilized people for participation at the halt stations. DAPCU prepared documentation on the RRE program. Invitations were sent to schools and colleges inviting their participation.

Pre Arrival  Activity  in Vadodara

1. District Level Organization Co-Ordination Committee for RRE was constituted under the Hon. Collector and DRM -No. of members -45
2. Press Conference by Collector, CDHO and DPO- Number of participants - 30
3. Advertisement and announcements in the newspaper
4. Information of HIV in Youth festival of different colleges- No.  of participating students: 5000
5. Orientation of RRE in 35 group meetings at Youth Information Centres (YIC)  and Link worker scheme through DAPCUs  - No. of Participants present 5000
6. 50 Village group meetings at YIC Link worker scheme through DAPCU. No of participants 3200
7. Total No. Of  Volunteers Trained:  45
8. Five Orientation meetings with NGOs:-No. of Participants -80

The RRE was welcomed by the State Health Minister Shri Parbatbhai Patel, District Development Officer, and District Health Officer. In their welcome addresses they spoke about the objectives of RRE, the status of HIV facilities and services in the district, previous years RRE activities in Vadodara as well as the on-going mainstreaming efforts in the district. The RRE attracted people an broadly the achievements and details of the core teams are provided below:

RRE - Achievement

Total Population Reach	19,125
Total Training Batch	14
Total participants in Training	750
Total Counselling	460
Total HIV Testing	121
STD Treatment	6
General Treatment	89
Blood Donation	25
PSB	14