Mumbai : The Federal Bank Hormis Memorial Foundation and News18 Network held a national convention as part of the second phase of their ‘Sanjeevani: United Against Cancer’ program, with Tata Trusts as knowledge partners. This event brought together key stakeholders, industry leaders, and top bureaucrats to discuss the critical importance of cancer awareness, early detection, and screening in India.
With nearly 15 lakh cancer cases reported annually, India ranks third in the world after the US and China. The ‘Sanjeevani’ initiative has been working to combat this growing cancer crisis through partnerships that focus on raising awareness and fostering conversations about the disease, which remains the second leading cause of mortality worldwide.
Speaking during a fireside chat session, Bollywood actor and National Ambassador for the ‘Sanjeevani’ campaign, Vidya Balan, shared her personal experience with the disease, emphasizing the value of early detection. “Cancer has always scared me, but when someone dear to me was diagnosed two years ago, I realized that early detection made all the difference in their recovery. The fear of cancer is so immense that it often blinds us to the fact that regular screenings can save lives. I decided to lend my voice to this campaign to encourage people to get screened regularly,” she said.
Balan added, “The fight against cancer is a journey of compassion and resilience. Every act of awareness and support brings hope and healing to patients and their families. Through the ‘Sanjeevani’ initiative, we remain dedicated to spreading awareness about cancer screenings and early detection. By working together, we can defeat cancer.”
KVS Manian, CEO of Federal Bank, highlighted the importance of healthcare as a pillar of national development. “India cannot achieve its vision of a Viksit Bharat without a Swasthya Bharat. Healthcare, especially early detection in cancer, requires significant investment and attention. Federal Bank is committed to supporting treatment-related expenses, but it is crucial to also invest in infrastructure that provides long-term benefits to society. Awareness is a key challenge, and campaigns like ‘Sanjeevani’ are essential to this effort,” he said.
Siddharth Sharma, CEO of Tata Trusts, spoke about the organization’s commitment to reducing the cancer burden in India. “Tata Trusts have been dedicated to making world-class cancer care affordable and accessible. As knowledge partners for ‘Sanjeevani,’ we aim to inform the public about the latest cancer practices and encourage early screenings. Our collective efforts can help mitigate the growing cancer crisis,” he said.
Avinash Kaul, CEO of Network18 and Managing Director of A+E Networks, emphasized the media’s role in driving health awareness. “As a leading news network, we have a responsibility to prioritize the health and well-being of our audience. ‘Sanjeevani’ has become our flagship campaign, creating impact through factual storytelling and promoting cancer screenings. This convention represents a pivotal moment in our journey, and we are committed to advancing this conversation through various partnerships and on-ground activations,” he stated.
The ‘Sanjeevani: United Against Cancer’ campaign has reached over 600 million viewers via News18’s TV network and garnered over 13 million social media interactions. The initiative remains dedicated to spreading its message of hope, raising awareness about cancer screenings, and driving lasting social change.
