Union Minister of State for Health Sudip Bandyopadhyay has said that number of AIDS patients have come down in the country in the recent times. Addressing a gathering on arrival of Red Ribon Express to spread awareness on HIV/AIDS at Sealdah station in Kolkata on Friday, Bandyopadhyay said around 1,60,00,000 people are suffering from the disease in the country and the figure had come down due to launching of massive campaign and adoption of adequate preventive measures.

West Bengal Minister of State for Health Chandrima Bhattacharya praised the efforts of Health and Railway Ministry to check the disease from spreading. She said number of AIDS patients had also come down in the state from four lakhs to one lakh.

As already reported, the Red Ribon Expess has started its third leg of journey on Birthday of the Swami Vivekanand on 12th January this year and it will travel 23 state of the country during a year long time.