On 12th November 2024, AXA Health and MP Carolyn Harris hosted an impactful event at the House of Commons, focusing on gender health equality and the importance of challenging the normalisation of pain and discomfort as intrinsic to womanhood. With AXA Health’s commitment to ensuring that women’s physical and mental health concerns are taken seriously, this event marked the launch of AXA Health's Call to Action, created in collaboration with the Fawcett Society and Bloody Good Period.
The event brought together a diverse lineup of speakers and key voices in government, healthcare, and advocacy, including:
Anneliese Dodds, Minister for Women and Equalities
Mims Davies, Shadow Minister for Women
Christine Jardine, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Women and Equalities
AXA Health’s Call to Action aims to reshape how women’s health issues, such as menstrual and menopausal pain, are perceived and managed both in the workplace and across parliamentary platforms. The event stressed the need for collective change in addressing these issues proactively, rather than accepting them as unchangeable parts of women’s lives.
AXA, Bloody Good Period, the Fawcett Society, and Over the Bloody Moon are urging the new government to take decisive action by:
Committing to funding the Women's Health Strategy through 2032
Reducing average waiting times for women’s health conditions
Encouraging and supporting companies with over 250 employees to implement action plans addressing menstruation, menopause, and fertility
These actions are essential steps toward a future where women’s health is prioritised and adequately supported across all sectors.
In addition to policymakers, the event was attended by prominent figures in business and healthcare, including:
Heather Smith, Health expert
Dr. Pallavi Bradshaw, Deputy Chief Medical Officer, AXA Health
Jemima Olchawski, CEO, Fawcett Society
Joseph Gray, Employers Lead at Bloody Good Period and Co-Founder of Bloody Good Employers
A unique highlight of the event was Over the Bloody Moon’s immersive experience designed to increase empathy among male MPs. Male attendees had the chance to wear a MenoVest, experience VR headsets, and try somedays period pain stimulators, simulating the physical discomfort that many women face daily.
This event, hosted in the heart of Parliament, serves as an important step toward dismantling stigma, advocating for equitable healthcare, and fostering workplace policies that support women’s well-being. With AXA Health leading the charge alongside these influential organisations, the event underscored a crucial message: period pain is not normal, and women’s health must be prioritised in all sectors.
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