International Women’s Day 2026: Radiant Group champions preventive healthcare

A woman undergoes a medical procedure at Radiant Hospital/HANDOUT

Radiant Group of Hospitals has rooted for preventive healthcare as it rolled out special initiatives to mark International Women’s Day 2026.

In a statement released on the occasion, Group CEO Salome Chiira emphasised the importance of early detection of health conditions and empowering women with accessible healthcare.

"Women are the backbone of families, communities and healthcare systems. Their courage, compassion and leadership continue to inspire progress," Chiira said.

She underscored the need to empower women through comprehensive, quality, and accessible healthcare services.

“On this International Women’s Day, we celebrate the courage, resilience and achievements of women everywhere. Let us continue to break barriers, champion equality, and work together so that every woman and girl can live with dignity, opportunity and freedom,” Chiira added.

As part of the celebrations, Radiant Group of Hospitals announced that they would offer free blood pressure checks, free BMI assessments, and free physical breast examinations at all branches. Additionally, charges for RBS checks, obstetric ultrasound scans, cervical cancer screenings via Villi, and gynecology consultations have been significantly reduced.

“On this day, several essential health checks will either be free or offered at significantly discounted rates across all our branches,” Chiira said, highlighting that the initiative is designed to support expectant mothers while encouraging proper pregnancy monitoring.

Radiant Group of Hospitals Group CEO Salome Chiira/HANDOUT

International Women’s Day, celebrated annually on March 8, recognises the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women while also drawing attention to the ongoing challenges they face, including discrimination, violence, and unequal access to opportunities.

Globally, governments, civil society organisations, and activists are using the occasion to advocate for stronger policies that promote gender equality, equal pay, access to education, and greater representation of women in leadership roles. The day also serves as a platform to celebrate the contributions of women across politics, business, science, technology, health, and community development.

Across the world, events such as conferences, community forums, marches, and mentorship programs are being organized to inspire the next generation of women leaders and reinforce the importance of empowering girls through education and economic opportunities.

Observers note that while progress has been made over the years, sustained efforts remain crucial to ensure women and girls can fully participate in shaping the future of their communities and nations.

Initiatives like those by Radiant Group of Hospitals demonstrate how healthcare access can play a vital role in advancing gender equality and supporting women’s empowerment.

UN Women Executive Director Sima Bahous said the International Women’s Day 2026, under the theme “Rights. Justice. Action for All Women and Girls,” must be the collective turning point.

“We must stand up, show up, and speak up, for rights, justice, action, so all women and girls can live safely, speak freely, and exist equally,” she said.