To raise public awareness on the importance of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine for girls below the age of 14, Kanchipuram Obstetric and Gynaecological Society (KOGS), with the support of the Indian Medical Association (IMA), Tambaram Branch, organised an awareness rally in Tambaram on Saturday.

Former international athlete and Asian medal-winning sprinter Gayathri Govindaraj flagged off the rally. Umaiyal Murugesan, President of KOGS, emphasised that the HPV vaccine is an effective preventive measure against cervical cancer- one of the most common cancers affecting women in India. “Just as polio was eradicated through vaccination, cervical cancer can also be significantly prevented with timely HPV vaccination,” she said. Over 400 doctors, healthcare workers and public attended the event.