Conquer Cancer initiative reaches 200 sessions, latest held at Amritsar Central Jail

Phulkari Women of Amritsar, a non-profit organisation dedicated to cancer awareness, celebrated a milestone with its Conquer Cancer initiative, completing its 200th cervical cancer awareness session today at the Amritsar Central Jail. This achievement underscores the national commitment to spreading health awareness to all segments of society, including high-security and correctional institutions.

The Conquer Cancer team, led by Praneet Bubber, Dr Rashmi Vij, Gayatri Khanna, Sheetal Sohal, Priyanka Goyal and Dr Neeru Gupta, has conducted 200 structured awareness sessions, reaching over 7.2 lakh citizens with vital information on cervical cancer prevention. This initiative aligns with the government’s priorities on preventive healthcare, community mobilization, and equitable access to health information, contributing to the national goal of fostering informed communities and encouraging early detection.

“We have collaborated with CAPED and the Abir Foundation to build a consistent, evidence-based framework for community instruction, enhancing the credibility and long-term impact of this initiative,” said Meenakshi Khanna, president of Phulkari. “Today’s session was conducted without external sponsorship or ceremonial presence, representing a citizen-led, institutionally aligned model of public health advocacy,” she added.

Praneet Bubber, Joint Chairperson of the Conquer Cancer program, said, “Reaching 200 sessions in diverse and often underserved areas reflects our collective commitment to preventive care. Awareness is the first line of defence and today’s milestone proves that no community or institution should be left out of critical health information.”

Nidhi Sindhwani, a member of the initiative, emphasised, “This landmark reflects sustained public engagement and aligns with India’s healthcare priorities. Every session strengthens trust, improves health-seeking behaviour and builds stronger community ownership. Our outreach to 7.2 lakh people shows that when women lead the health dialogue with dignity and evidence, communities respond responsibly.”

The Government of India encourages institutions, civil society groups and citizens to actively participate in strengthening women’s health awareness nationwide. Efforts like the Conquer Cancer initiative play a vital role in advancing India’s public health goals.