Scrub Life Cares Presents Groundbreaking Menstrual Health Research at the 2025 American Public Health Association Conference
Scrub Life Cares, a registered nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing menstrual equity and reproductive and sexual health education, is proudly representing research from Antigua and Barbuda on the global public health stage this week. Founder and CEO, Tanya Ambrose, MPH, is currently presenting at the American Public Health Association (APHA) 2025 Annual Meeting and Expo in Washington, D.C.. “This research will serve as a catalyst for national policy advocacy and deeper collaboration with our Ministries of Health and Education,” Ambrose noted. “It opens the door to broader regional discussions around health tourism and the design of sustainable, gender-inclusive public health systems in the Caribbean.”
At APHA 2025 with over 16,000 health professionals, Ambrose is presenting Scrub Life Cares’ groundbreaking research, “Lived Experiences of Menstrual Health and Product Access in Antigua and Barbuda Among Women and Girls: A Qualitative Study,” as part of the International Health program. Later this week, she will also share findings from “Periods & Period Products: A Qualitative Research Report” during the virtual International Association for Adolescent Health (IAAH) World Congress. Both studies mark the first time original menstrual health research from Antigua and Barbuda is being presented at this level of international recognition.
“This moment is monumental for Scrub Life Cares, and for Antigua and Barbuda as a whole,” said Ambrose during her presentation. She continues, “To see our community-based research and advocacy reach the world stage is proof that our stories, challenges, and solutions are worthy of attention. Centering the lived experiences of women and girls across the Caribbean ensures menstrual equity becomes a global public health priority.”
This marks Scrub Life Cares’ second appearance at the American Public Health Association’s prestigious Annual Meeting. In 2023, the organization’s powerful short film on period poverty was accepted into the APHA Short Film Festival, capturing the emotional and social realities of period poverty through a Caribbean lens. Two years later, Scrub Life Cares returns with data-driven, community-rooted research, reaffirming its dual commitment to storytelling and evidence-based advocacy.
Following the APHA 2025 conference, she will continue on to the 13th World Congress on Adolescent Health, hosted by the International Association for Adolescent Health (IAAH), now being held virtually due to the national disaster declaration in Jamaica following the catastrophic impact of Hurricane Melissa.
While the Caribbean continues to grapple with the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa, we extend our heartfelt condolences to the families who have lost loved ones. Scrub Life Cares expresses solidarity with our regional partners, particularly the women, girls, and health professionals in Jamaica, Haiti, Dominican Republic and Cuba, who continue to demonstrate strength and resilience in the face of adversity.
In these moments, we must remember the women and girls who are in need of menstrual and hygiene supplies. Additionally, we highlight the importance of maternal health and child health. Now more than ever, communities must support new and expecting mothers and breast-feeding moms. As our Caribbean sisters and brothers rebuild their homes and hearts, we remain committed to ensuring access to essential health and wellness resources, from maternal care to menstrual supplies and mental health support.
Scrub Life Cares continues to champion evidence-based programming and community empowerment through its signature initiatives. Its flagship event, the Grow With the Flo: Women & Girls Health Expo, provides a platform for menstrual health education, inter-generational learning, and reproductive justice by reaching hundreds of women, girls, and men annually. The findings being presented this week directly inform the future of this work and will strengthen the organization’s ability to advocate for policy integration, school-based education reform, and public-private partnerships on menstrual health and hygiene.
Though small in size, Scrub Life Cares’ impact has transcended borders. The organization has gained growing visibility in the United States, particularly in South Carolina, where Ambrose earned her Master of Public Health degree with a concentration in Health Services Policy and Management and a Certificate in Maternal and Child Health. Her leadership bridges Caribbean community work with global public health dialogue, combining research, advocacy, and storytelling to create systems that center the voices of women and girls.
“Being able to take research conducted at home in Antigua in collaboration with partners like Aritex Biotech and present it internationally is a full-circle moment,” Ambrose reflected. “It’s a testament to what can happen when community-driven work meets global recognition.”
Scrub Life Cares extends sincere gratitude to the study participants and the dedicated research team whose collaboration made this project possible, including Mrs. Billie Sterling-Lewis, Miss Chloe Ambrose, Miss Shushanna Ambrose, Miss Claire Donahue, Miss Shavani Stewart, Miss Britney McDonald, Miss Tia Philip, Miss Kayla Joy Richards, Miss Janet Simon, Miss Villacy Clendenen, Mr. Karil Knight, Miss Kirah Gregory, and Ms. Lyneth Freelan, the Cana Moravian Church who hosted the qualitative research session. Their insights and commitment continue to shape this work’s authenticity and impact.
“This research belongs to the community,” Ambrose concluded during her APHA remarks. “It belongs to a future where no woman or girl is left behind because of her period. Menstrual health is not a privilege; it is a human right.”
Proudly marking its 5th anniversary in November 2025, Scrub Life Cares increases dialogue on public health, access to menstrual health resources and comprehensive reproductive and sexual health education across Antigua and Barbuda and the Caribbean. Through public engagement, advocacy, and education, the organization continues to advance dignity, health equity, and empowerment for women and girls throughout the Caribbean.
For more information or to support Scrub Life Cares, visit www.scrublifecares.org or follow on Instagram @scrublifecares.
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