Menstrual health (MH) is a human rights issue and integral to women’s wellbeing; yet it remains a challenge. In Zimbabwe, there is a high unmet need for MH products and support for women, including care for menstrual pain and disorders. If we are to reduce gendered hygiene-related inequalities and related larger health, social and economic impacts, it is important to understand and address the MH-related challenges women face daily. 

TAURA (which means “Speak Up” in Shona) is a participatory action research study to transform menstrual health for women in Zimbabwe. Operating in two provinces in Zimbabwe (Harare and Bulawayo), this study will develop a setting-specific and evidence-based MH resource and training package (an MH Toolkit). This package will improve MH-seeking behaviours, quality of care and the overall wellbeing and quality of life for women in Zimbabwe. This will be achieved via four objectives: i) to investigate the lived experiences of women in Zimbabwe concerning MH; ii) to synthesize findings into an entertaining and educational MH film and art showcase that brings attention and understanding to the often stigmatized and mystified experiences of menstruation and MH; iii) to understand the gaps in MH-related knowledge and healthcare-seeking behaviour and provision; and iv) to use these findings to co-develop, pilot, and evaluate a comprehensive “MH Toolkit” for women and their healthcare providers. 

The project is innovative in focusing on women and menstruation across the life-course and on the co-creation of an MH Toolkit with women, healthcare providers, and other relevant stakeholders in communities across Zimbabwe.  

On November 3rd, the Pikicha Gallery in Harare hosted the MWEDZI Art Exhibition and Prize Giving Event, a remarkable event that showcased the diverse and thought-provoking artwork inspired by women’s menstrual health experiences. Led by Dr Mandi Tembo, the MWEDZI Art Exhibition marked the culmination of the MWEDZI art competition, a public engagement component of the TAURA study. The MWEDZI (a Shona term used to describe menstruation) competition, which ran from September 1st to October 31st, invited girls and women of all ages to express their menstrual health journeys through art, graphic design, and photography. The art exhibition at Pikicha Gallery featured a stunning array of artworks that captured the essence of menstruation and its significance in women’s lives. Attendees had the opportunity to immerse themselves in the vivid imagery, thought-provoking designs, and gain a deeper understanding of the menstrual experiences and emotions expressed by the artists. 

The event also included a prize-giving ceremony to honour the exceptional artwork of the competition winners. The MWEDZI Competition winners were:  

1st place – Mikaela Nyamasoka 

2nd place – Merilyn Mushakwe 

3rd place – Tinotenda Munhumutema 

Showcase Favourite – Ariana Jani 

“We never get to talk about menstruation and all its issues… I loved being able to visually show the good aspects of periods. Menstruation is a part of becoming a woman, and it allows us to have children, but it also means pain and isolation.”

• Female participant, 32, Harare