Rao Hospital organised the third edition of “EndoMarch 2026,” a five-kilometre walkathon, at its premises in R.S. Puram on Sunday to mark International Women’s Day and Endometriosis Awareness Month.
The annual initiative aims to create awareness about endometriosis and promote women’s health. The programme also marked the third year of the hospital’s specialised Centre for Endometriosis, the Foundation for Endometriosis and Menstrual Disorders.
According to hospital officials, the centre has performed more than 150 surgeries over the past three years under the guidance of Damodar Rao, Senior Consultant Gynaecological Laparoscopic Surgeon and Endometriosis Excision Specialist, providing specialised treatment to women suffering from the condition.
The walkathon was flagged off by K.K. Nandhan, Inspector of Police, B2 R.S. Puram Police Station, who appreciated the hospital’s efforts in spreading awareness about women’s health and encouraged the public to support initiatives promoting early diagnosis and
treatment.
More than 750 people, including healthcare professionals and members of the public, participated in the event. Participants received event T-shirts, finisher medals and certificates. The programme began with a Zumba warm-up session, followed by the walkathon, and concluded with cool-down exercises and fun games with prizes. Winners of the walkathon were also announced during the event.
Vanathi Srinivasan, National President of the BJP Mahila Morcha and Coimbatore South MLA, attended the programme as the Guest of Honour and spoke about the importance of women’s empowerment, health awareness and collective efforts to support women’s wellbeing.
Leema Rose, Assistant Rotary Foundation Coordinator of Rotary International District 3206 and member of Rotary Aakruti Club of Coimbatore, was felicitated for her contributions to community service and social welfare initiatives.
Speaking on the occasion, Asha Rao, Managing Director and Chief Consultant in Fertility and Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Rao Hospital, said endometriosis is a chronic condition affecting nearly one in ten women worldwide and often remains undiagnosed for several years.
She said initiatives such as EndoMarch aim to promote awareness, encourage early diagnosis and ensure access to specialised care for women affected by the condition. She added that the hospital, through its dedicated centre, remains committed to improving the quality of life of women suffering from endometriosis.
