Sanchita Chatterjee, BS News Agency: The date, November 7th, was chosen to mark the birth anniversary of Madame Marie Curie, the Nobel Prize-winning physicist and chemist whose pioneering work on radioactivity significantly contributed to the development of cancer treatment.
Initiation: The observance of this day was first announced in 2014 by the then Union Health Minister of India, Dr. Harsh Vardhan.
Purpose: The primary goal is to raise public awareness about the rising burden of cancer in India, emphasize the importance of prevention and early detection, and encourage people to undergo timely screenings.
Activities: On this day, various public hospitals, cancer institutes, NGOs, and government agencies organize free cancer screening camps, awareness campaigns, and educational programs to reach communities.
The day serves as a critical reminder that early diagnosis can significantly improve survival rates, making awareness the first step in the fight against cancer.