Sri Ramakrishna Hospital commemorated World Cancer Day 2026 by launching a social media awareness campaign and a free prostate cancer screening initiative on February 4, 2026, at the hospital campus.
The campaign was launched by the Chief Guest, Sasi Mohan, Deputy Inspector General of Police, Coimbatore, in the presence of R. Sundar, Managing Trustee, SNR Sons Charitable Trust; Dr. Guhan, Director and Medical Oncologist, Sri Ramakrishna Institute of Oncology & Research; and Dr. Bhargavi, Consultant Surgical Oncologist.
The campaign provides comprehensive awareness information on 14 types of cancer in both English and Tamil. The content will be disseminated across social media platforms, including YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram, throughout the month of February. The awareness campaign can be accessed at: https://www.magnahcits.in/srior/wcd_2026/index.html
The free prostate cancer screening will be available throughout the month of February, marking the 20th consecutive year of this sustained public health initiative.
The event was graced by Narendran, Joint Managing Trustee; Ramkumar, Chief Executive Officer; Maheshkumar, Chief Administrative Officer of SNR Sons Charitable Trust; Dr. Rajagopal, Medical Director; and Dr. Alagappan, Medical Superintendent of the hospital.
We have the best cancer diagnostic facilities in Covai
-R. Sundar, Managing Trustee, SNR Sons Charitable Trust
In the presidential address, Sundar explained the need for developing an awareness campaign on social media. He said that today’s youngsters largely depend on social media for information and advice. He then stated that Sri Ramakrishna Hospital has the best cancer diagnostic facilities in Coimbatore and is among the leading hospitals with advanced equipment for cancer care.
He further explained that through this campaign, people will be able to identify real and fake information shared on social media. He also highlighted other initiatives offered by the Oncology Institute, such as palliative care services and the Deepam Project, which focuses on screening for women’s health.
Inequity in healthcare remains high
-Sasi Mohan, DIG, Coimbatore
The Chief Guest, Sasi Mohan, in his address on the social media awareness campaign, said that online media has become the easiest way to share quality information in the age of misinformation and that such awareness plays a vital role in reaching the public. He also pointed out that inequity in healthcare remains high and stressed that addressing this issue requires increased screening through affordable means.
He further emphasised the importance of outreach programmes in achieving better health outcomes. He noted that a higher number of disease detections indicates increased screening, which in turn helps in identifying illnesses at an early stage and enables timely and proper treatment.
He concluded by urging the hospital to continue with these initiatives.
In his welcome address, Dr. Guhan emphasised that World Cancer Day focuses on raising awareness about the devastating global impact of cancer, encouraging prevention, promoting early detection, improving access to treatment, and reducing stigma—ultimately aiming to save lives and build a cancer-conscious society.
Referring to this year’s theme, he highlighted the importance of people-centred cancer care, recognising that every individual’s experience with cancer is unique.
He also noted that cancer incidence in India has been rising at an alarming rate. Around 10 lakh cases were reported in 2015, which increased to 16 lakh cases by 2025. In Tamil Nadu, the Population-Based Cancer Registry reported 1,07,000 cancer cases in 2021. District-wise data shows Chennai ranking first, followed by Thiruvallur, Vellore, Kancheepuram, and Coimbatore in fifth place.
In Coimbatore, the most common cancers among men include oral cavity cancer, lung cancer, oesophageal cancer, and prostate cancer. Among women, breast cancer, cervical cancer, and ovarian cancer are the most prevalent.
Citing the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5), Dr. Guhan stated that cancer screening levels in India remain critically low. Only 1.9 per cent of the population has undergone cervical cancer screening, while 0.9 per cent has been screened for breast cancer.
In Tamil Nadu, cervical cancer screening stands at 4.8 per cent and breast cancer screening at 9.8 per cent, far below the World Health Organization’s recommended population coverage of 70–80 per cent.
To address this gap and reinforce the message that early detection ensures cure, a comprehensive social media awareness campaign focusing on 14 types of cancer, including breast, oral, lung, cervical, ovarian, and blood cancers, was launched.
The programme concluded with a vote of thanks proposed by Dr. Bhargavi. Through these initiatives, SRIOR reaffirmed its commitment to cancer awareness, early detection, and accessible screening, aligning with the global mission of World Cancer Day to reduce the cancer burden and save lives.
