Hyderabad, February 4, 2025: Apollo Cancer Centres & CURE Foundation, in a major initiative to raise awareness and prevent cervical cancer, has launched a Free Cervical Cancer Vaccination Program. The program was officially unveiled by Ms. Meenakshi Choudary, Multi-Faceted Popular Actress, today at the hospital premises, on the eve of World Cancer Day, observed on February 4, 2025. The event was graced by Dr. Vijay Anand Reddy, Director of Apollo Cancer Centres, Hyderabad; Dr Padmaja Lokireddy, Sr. Consultant Haemato Oncologist & Bone Marrow Transplant, Apollo Cancer Centres, Hyderabad; Dr Rajeev Reddy, Consultant Orthopaedic Oncosurgeon and Sarcoma Specialist, Apollo Cancer Centres, Hyderabad; and, Dr SVSS Prasad, Sr. Consultant Medical Oncologist, Apollo Cancer Centres, Hospitals, Hyderabad.
This Free Vaccination drive being conducted throughout the month of February, will have free HPV vaccinations being administered to women between 9 AM and 6 PM, at Apollo Cancer Centres, Jubilee Hills. Additionally, the hospital has extended its support to young girls in orphanages across Hyderabad, ensuring they receive the vaccine at no cost.
Speaking about this crucial Step in the fight against Cervical Cancer, Dr. Vijay Anand Reddy, Director of Apollo Cancer Centres, emphasized the critical role of this initiative. He said, this is a significant step forward in our collective fight against cervical cancer. Through widespread vaccination, we aim to protect future generations and prevent unnecessary suffering.
Dr Vijay Anand Reddy speaking on the occasion said, our guest and Actress Meenakshi Choudhary, a national badminton player, national swimmer and a dental doctor, has promised to help us by being our ambassador to help build cancer awareness and promote cancer charity initiatives that we undertake. Tomorrow is cancer care day, it’s essential we create enough awareness about cancer, that cancer is preventable, detectable early and above all curable. Such awareness programs help in removing the scare about cancer, encourage the people to go for early detection of cancer and get it treated, because cancer can be cured, specially if it’s detected early. Even for patients in late stages we are in a position to control cancer and ensure good quality of life. Cancer is going to be the most common disease in the days to come and it’s imperative that each one of us knows what are the symptoms and signs of cancer, so that we are alert to the disease and seek help as quickly as possible. Today we also took the initiative to prevent cancer by giving vaccination. Right now there are only two cancers which can be prevented by taking vaccine, the liver cancer and cervical cancer. We have taken up the project to do cervical cancer vaccination, we have also been requesting the government to do this vaccination free of cost. Last year Central government had agreed and announced that they will do cervical cancer vaccination free of cost for girls between 9 and 26 years of age. But it will take time to implement the program in the entire country, therefore we are taking the responsibility to initiate the program in the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad fir the underprivileged girls in orphanages and also to create awareness in the other strata of the society about the importance of vaccination to protect young girls from cervical cancer. Today we vaccinated 150 orphan girls, we will keep the program open till the end of the February month to vaccinate more.
Actress Meenakshi Choudhary said, its a matter of pride for me to be associated with this program for lot of things, because it’s something I hold extremely close to my heart. Among women the most common cancers are breast cancer and cervical cancer, most of which can be cured, but lack of awareness about these cancers being treatable is holding women back from leading a healthy lifestyle, that is where Apollo Hospitals, Cure foundation & these caring Doctors have been making a huge difference to many a lives. I know it’s tough to break the taboo about cancer, but we should but intensify awareness and help overcome this dreaded disease and come a step a closer to prevent & detect the disease early.
Cancer incidence is rising at an alarming rate, with a significant percentage of cases detected in advanced stages, limiting recovery prospects. Among women, cervical and breast cancers are the most prevalent, accounting for 50% of all female cancers. 20% of Indian women suffering from cancer are diagnosed with cervical cancer, a largely rural phenomenon; while 30% incidence of women cancers are breast cancer, which is more common in urban areas.
Globally, cervical cancer has been effectively controlled through the HPV vaccine, India continues to witness high incidence rates despite the availability of this simple preventive measure. Apollo Cancer Centres is determined to bridge this gap by increasing access to the vaccine and spreading awareness.
Dr. Reddy reiterated Apollo Cancer Centres commitment to eliminating cervical cancer as a public health concern, aligning with the World Health Organization’s (WHO) goal to eliminate cervical cancer by 2030. The WHO’s strategy calls for 90% of girls to be fully vaccinated with the HPV vaccine by the age of 15, a milestone that Apollo Cancer Centres is dedicated to supporting through this initiative, he adds.
With this vaccination drive, Apollo Cancer Centres continues to lead the fight against cervical cancer, empowering women with preventive healthcare and paving the way for a healthier future.