Vice President Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan released the memoir 'Dancing with Joy' by Dr. Ananda Shankar Jayant, which documents her journey through cancer and how dance helped her overcome the disease. During the event, the Vice President highlighted significant developments in India's cancer care infrastructure under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, noting the establishment of over 700 District Clinics and 500 Day Care Cancer Centres across states. Additionally, 19 State Cancer Institutes and 20 Tertiary Care Cancer Centres have been approved for operationalization, bringing specialized treatment closer to patients.
The Vice President emphasized the importance of preventive healthcare and early screening through initiatives like Ayushman Arogya Mandirs and the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases. He detailed the ₹5 lakh annual health coverage available to eligible families under Ayushman Bharat and highlighted the nationwide HPV vaccination campaign launched in February 2026, which aims to protect approximately 1.2 crore young girls against cervical cancer, with over 50 lakh girls already vaccinated.
Key dignitaries present included Dr. Sandhya Purecha (Chairman, Sangeet Natak Akademi), Dr. P. Raghu Ram (Chairman, Ushalakshmi Breast Cancer Foundation), and Dr. Sachchidanand Joshi (Member Secretary, Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts). The event was attended by doctors, cancer specialists, and cancer survivors, with the Vice President stressing that awareness, early detection, and timely treatment are crucial for saving lives from cancer.