Periods are not shameful: NCW calls for ending menstrual stigma, expanding women’s healthcare access

New Delhi: On the occasion of World Menstrual Hygiene Week 2026, senior government leaders, healthcare experts and women’s rights advocates called for greater awareness, dignity and accessible healthcare support for women across India.

The national dialogue was organised by the National Commission for Women in collaboration with SHEWings Foundation at the NCW Auditorium in New Delhi.

The event brought together policymakers, medical professionals, educators, social leaders and youth participants to discuss menstrual health, preventive healthcare and women’s well-being.

Leaders stress need to break silence around menstruation

Addressing the gathering, NCW Chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar said society must move beyond stigma and encourage open conversations around menstrual health.

“Periods are not shameful, they are a natural biological process. Society must move from silence to awareness and from stigma to dignity. Open conversations, awareness, and accessible healthcare support are necessary for every woman,” she said.

Union Minister of State for Women and Child Development Savitri Thakur also highlighted the importance of ensuring menstrual awareness and healthcare access for women and girls across the country.

She said breaking the silence around menstruation and women’s health was essential for building a healthier and more empowered society.

‘Cancer screening on wheels’ initiative launched

A major highlight of the programme was the launch of the “Cancer Screening on Wheels” initiative, aimed at improving last-mile healthcare access for women, particularly in underserved and remote areas.

The mobile screening bus was inaugurated by Savitri Thakur, Vijaya Rahatkar, Shikha Gupta and Madan Mohit Bhardwaj.

The specially designed bus has been introduced to provide doorstep preventive healthcare services and promote early detection of cervical cancer, breast cancer and other women’s health concerns.

Healthcare experts emphasise preventive screening

Dr Rajesh Mishra, Medical Director of SHEWings Cancer Center, explained the medical technology integrated into the screening vehicle and encouraged women to undergo preventive health check-ups.

According to organisers, the initiative seeks to improve healthcare awareness and make screening services more accessible to women who may otherwise struggle to reach medical facilities.

The programme also saw healthcare experts and participants collectively stressing the importance of menstrual dignity, awareness and preventive healthcare in improving women’s overall quality of life.

Initiative aimed at reaching women at grassroots level

NHPC Women’s Club President Shikha Gupta praised the initiative and congratulated the NCW and SHEWings Foundation for organising the event during World Menstrual Hygiene Week.

She described the launch of the mobile screening service as a meaningful and impactful step towards strengthening women’s healthcare services, especially in remote and underprivileged regions.

Founder of SHEWings Foundation Madan Mohit Bhardwaj said the initiative was designed to directly reach women at the grassroots level.

“The Cancer Screening on Wheels initiative is an important step towards reaching women at the grassroots level. Through this bus, women will have access to awareness, screening, and preventive healthcare services directly at their doorstep,” he said.

The organisers said the initiative reflects growing efforts to combine awareness campaigns with accessible healthcare infrastructure in order to improve women’s health outcomes across the country.

Agency inputs