A total of 50,000 female workers in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region will receive free physical examinations this year as part of a health program that was initiated in the regional capital Urumqi on Monday.

The program, which kicked off ahead of International Women's Day celebrations on Tuesday, was jointly carried out by the regional branch of the All China Federation of Trade Unions and the PLA No. 474 Hospital, said Pan Jingmin, a member of the regional trade union.

Pan said that the program was meant to offer more health protection to women in the region.

She noted that female migrant workers, a demographic that is usually neglected, is also covered in the program.

Further, PLA No. 474 Hospital would reduce medical costs by 30 percent for 100 poor female workers, said Wang Jun, the hospital's director.

Wang hoped that the program would send a message to female workers in the region that they would be taken care of by the government and society.

Also, women who receive health examinations would receive 50,000 health manuals to raise their heath awareness, said Pan.