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Scrub Life Cares’ Menstrual Health Policy Motion Ranked Among Top Three Global Priorities at the 2025 International Association for Adolescent Health World Congress
A policy motion submitted by Scrub Life Cares, a community-based nonprofit organization based in Antigua and Barbuda, calling for the integration of menstrual health and comprehensive sexual and reproductive health education (CSE) into adolescent health policies worldwide, was ranked among the top three global priorities at the 2025 International Association for Adolescent Health (IAAH) World Congress.
The motion received an overwhelming 96.2% support from international delegates, signaling a broad global consensus that addressing stigma, period poverty, misinformation, and persistent access gaps is essential to improving adolescent health outcomes, dignity, and educational equity.
Across the Caribbean, menstrual inequity remains a significant barrier to education and health.
Community-based research and regional data consistently show that many girls miss school or participate less fully in daily activities due to lack of access to menstrual products, accurate information, and supportive environments.
These challenges are compounded by gaps in comprehensive sexual and reproductive health education, leaving young people without the knowledge they need to understand their bodies, make informed decisions, and protect their health.
The significance of the moment was evident from the outset.
As Founder & CEO, Tanya Ambrose, MPH, began reading the motion during the Congress session, she received immediate positive feedback from participants, an early indication of how strongly the issue resonated across regions and professional disciplines, even before voting commenced.
“Hearing that encouragement in real time affirmed that this work matters far beyond our borders,” Ambrose shared. “It was a powerful moment of validation, not just personally, but for the communities and region we represent.”
This recognition represents a major milestone for Antigua and Barbuda and the wider Caribbean.
Among the ten motions selected for presentation at this year’s Congress, Scrub Life Cares’ submission was the only motion originating from the Caribbean, elevating Caribbean perspectives and centering the lived experiences of women and girls within global adolescent health policy discussions.
“For a small, community-based organization from a small island nation to see its motion elevated into the top three global priorities is deeply meaningful,” Ambrose said.
“It affirms the importance of Caribbean-led public health advocacy and reminds us that small nations have powerful insights to contribute to global health systems.”
The Congress convened adolescent health professionals from more than twenty countries, including Antigua and Barbuda and other Caribbean islands, Argentina, Australia, Botswana, Brazil, Ethiopia, France, India, Ireland, Malawi, Peru, Poland, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, the United Arab Emirates, Uganda, the United Kingdom, Uruguay, and the United States. Following the devastating impact of Hurricane Melissa, the IAAH World Congress transitioned to a virtual format.
Scrub Life Cares expresses solidarity and care with all families and communities affected and continues to work alongside local and regional partners to support women, girls, and families as recovery efforts continue.
While motions that are passed are not binding on the incoming IAAH Council, they form the foundation of the organization’s Policy Agenda and help guide advocacy priorities, strategic planning, and program development over the next term.
The strong voting outcome underscores a growing global recognition that menstrual health and comprehensive sexual and reproductive health education are foundational to adolescent well-being, gender equity, and long-term health outcomes.
In addition to its policy advocacy, Scrub Life Cares was scheduled to present its original qualitative research during the IAAH Congress on day three of the in-person conference.
However, organizers are currently determining next steps for research presentations and workshops as they continue to assess the ongoing impact of Hurricane Melissa in Jamaica and the region.
Scrub Life Cares remains committed to sharing evidence-based research that centers on Caribbean lived experiences and informs global adolescent health practice.
This milestone further strengthens Scrub Life Cares’ ongoing work to integrate menstrual health and CSE into national school curricula, expand public–private partnerships for access to menstrual products, and support adolescent-centered, community-informed public health systems across Antigua and Barbuda and the wider Caribbean.
“This achievement belongs to our community,” Ambrose added. “It belongs to every girl, parent, educator, advocate, and health professional working toward a future where menstrual health is recognized as a human right.”
Founded in 2020, Scrub Life Cares is a registered nonprofit organization committed to increasing access to menstrual health resources and delivering comprehensive reproductive and sexual health education across Antigua and Barbuda and the wider Caribbean. Through evidence-based programming, community engagement, research, and advocacy, the organization advances dignity, equity, and whole-person wellness.
Its flagship initiative, the Grow With the Flo: Women & Girls Health Expo, now entering its fifth year, continues to serve as a national platform for menstrual health education, intergenerational learning, and empowerment.
For more information or to support Scrub Life Cares, visit www.scrublifecares.org or follow on Instagram @scrublifecares.
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