The WHO launch campaign on Delhi Metro for women health started on Wednesday at Sultanpur Metro Station. The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare partnered with the World Health Organization (WHO) to roll out this month-long initiative. Moreover, the campaign aims to boost the health and well-being of women and girls across Delhi through powerful public messaging.
The campaign will run through December and January, reaching millions of daily metro commuters. Furthermore, it will deliver important messages on women’s safety, mental health support, digital inclusion, and health awareness.
Campaign Focus Areas
The initiative covers multiple critical health topics. Additionally, authorities designed the campaign to address pressing women’s health issues in India.
| Focus Area | Key Message |
|---|---|
| Women’s Safety | Creating safer environments for women |
| Mental Health | Support and awareness for psychological well-being |
| Digital Inclusion | Empowering women through technology access |
| PCPNDT Awareness | Preventing sex determination and female foeticide |
| TB Awareness | Fighting tuberculosis through early detection |
Key Message: Healthy Women, Healthy Nation
Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava shared the campaign’s core message. She stated, “Agar swasth naari hai, to sashakt parivaar hai, sashakt rashtra hai.” This means when a woman stays healthy, the family and nation can remain healthy too.
Consequently, the campaign emphasizes that women’s health directly impacts overall national development. Therefore, investing in women’s health becomes crucial for India’s progress.
Fighting Gender Determination
The campaign strongly focuses on ensuring compliance with the PCPNDT Act. This Act aims to combat female foeticide and address India’s declining sex ratio.
Srivastava explained that advancing technologies are sometimes misused to determine the sex of unborn children. However, this practice remains illegal under Indian law. Moreover, the campaign urges people not to seek gender determination tests during pregnancy.
Why PCPNDT Matters:
- Prevents female foeticide
- Protects girl children’s right to life
- Addresses skewed sex ratios
- Promotes gender equality from birth
Tuberculosis Awareness Drive
Besides women’s health, the campaign also focuses on tuberculosis (TB). Furthermore, it supports the TB Mukt Abhiyaan (TB-Free Campaign) across the country.
Delhi reports high TB incidence rates. According to the latest Ni-kshay portal data, Delhi reported 98,309 TB cases between January and October 2025.
Additionally, the state has taken strong action:
- Screened nearly 8.78 lakh people
- Conducted around 3.8 lakh chest X-rays
- Accelerated identification of new TB cases
Therefore, the campaign aims to create a Jan Andolan (people’s movement) to fight this deadly infectious disease.
WHO’s Perspective
Dr Catharina Boehme, Officer-in-Charge of WHO South-East Asia, emphasized the campaign’s importance. She noted that “healthy women are the pillars of a healthy family, community, and a healthy nation.”
Moreover, she highlighted that the campaign coincides with the end of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender Based Violence. Consequently, as one campaign ends, another begins with the hashtag #BecozSheMatters.
She added, “Health of women and girls, including their mental health, is important not just for their well-being, but most importantly for our well-being.”
Reaching Millions Through Metro
The Delhi Metro serves millions of commuters daily. Therefore, leveraging this platform ensures critical health messages reach a vast audience.
Furthermore, metro trains and select stations will display campaign materials throughout December and January. Meanwhile, this strategic placement maximizes visibility and impact.
The WHO launch campaign on Delhi Metro for women health represents a significant step toward empowering women and creating healthier communities across the nation.
