In this episode we are joined by Mandi, who is a Fogarty Fellow and PhD Research Fellow at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (UK). With years of experience in research implementation, evaluation and sexual advocacy; her research embarks on an exploration of menstrual health, hygiene, and adolescent sexual health. The uniqueness of her experience takes us on a journey of distance learning to see how her work with the Chiedza Programme focuses the integration of menstrual health (MH) looking at product choice, MH knowledge, practices and perceptions amongst young women in Zimbabwe. Mandi’s work is so important for women in Zimbabwe, and we particularly love that her work is not only data driven, but incorporates interventions as well! This episode is an eye opener and encourages conversations around contraception, menstruation and fertility between the different genders (FEMINISM at play in real world settings). Mandi is well published in the topical areas of HIV, adolescent health, STIs and MH. She is also the founder of “The Bleed Read,” a virtual platform that comprehensively addresses and highlights all things MH. We would strongly encourage you to follow her Instagram page: The Bleed Read!

Some of her publications:

https://pilotfeasibilitystudies.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40814-020-00728-5

https://www.who.int/bulletin/volumes/99/2/20-260224.pdf

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33417838/