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Our research is addressing some of the world’s most pressing health challenges.
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“I aim to provide women and girls innovative and complete solutions, so that they can manage menstrual health and hygiene at an affordable price.”
I was working at James P Grant School of Public Health, BRAC University when Stephen Luby (former Director, Centre for Communicable Diseases at icddr,b), Professor of Medicine at Stanford University, emailed me regarding a job opening in his team. I applied for the job and was selected for the position, and joined icddr,b in 2011.
My major in anthropology has taught me to respect other cultures, their values, norms, and provided me the base to think from an alternative perspective. For example, stigma prevents Bangladeshi women and girls from eating foods enriched with protein during menstruation. Thus, I am currently developing a low-cost nutrient bar with iron, zinc, and calcium supplements made completely with locally sourced ingredients as an alternative to reduce iron deficiency anemia among the young menstruating women in Bangladesh.
Some of my other patentable innovations include The Sultana icddr,b Reusable Cloth Pad, The Sultana Washer and Dryer Bags to facilitate the hygienic maintenance of cloth pads, and The Jute Cellulose-Based Biodegradable Sanitary Pads (in collaboration with Dr. Mubarak Ahamad Khan (Scientific Advisor, BJMC). Currently, I am working to develop a machine to produce jute cellulose-based sanitary pads.
Since 2016 my work on menstrual health and hygiene has demonstrated an outstanding impact on women’s rights and gender equity in Bangladesh. I have been catalysing scientific findings into policy by forming the country’s very first “Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) Working Group” and by contributing to the development of the “National Menstrual Hygiene Management Strategy 2021”.
In recognition of my innovation and leadership capabilities, I have received the “WLGH Leadership Fellowship” award to present on Gender Parity at the 2017 Women Leaders in Global Health conference at Stanford University. I have also beenfeatured by national and international media including BBC Health Check Program and was an invited lecturer to different national and international forums. Recently, I have won the grand prize at the 4th Annual Innovations Pitch Competition organised by the American Society for Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH).
Why I work at icddr,b:
icddr,b provides equal opportunity and an environment to learn and grow and to solve public health problems through innovative scientific research. icddr,b trained me on scientific knowledge and skills to explore and implement low-cost, alternative, and innovative technologies to support the menstrual health and hygiene of the women and adolescent girls in Bangladesh.
icddr,b through my innovations has provided me the identity of being recognised nationally and internationally.
Future Plans:
I strive to become a leading global health scientist who develops and implements innovative ideas for positive changes in women and adolescent health and to enrich evidence based research on gender equity and women’s and girls’ empowerment.Â
2021 - till date
Adjunct Tutor, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Australia
2021
PhD Candidate, Monash University, Australia
2018 - till date
Assistant Scientist, icddr,b
2015 - 2016
Adjunct Senior Teaching Fellow, James P. Grant School of Public Health, BRAC University, Bangladesh
2015
MPH, The University of Melbourne, Australia
2012 - 2017
Research Investigator, icddr,b
2011 - 2012
Senior Research Officer, icddr,b
2010 - 2011
Field Research Officer, James P. Grant School of Public Health, BRAC University, Bangladesh
2009 - 2010
Research Assistant, Planning Alternatives for Change (PAC) LLC, Dhaka, Bangladesh
2007 - 2009
Research Assistant, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Bangladesh
2006
MSS in Anthropology, Jahangirnagar University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
2002 - 2006
BSS in Anthropology, Jahangirnagar University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
My research interest includes measuring stigma, academic performances and school attendance; menstrual health and hygiene; adolescent and women's health; WASH interventions; and exploring low-cost innovative technologies to improve women’s health in low-income countries, and globally.
Honors and Awards
2021:Â Â Grand Prize Winner for the proposed solution on “developing a machine to produce jute cellulose-based sanitary pads for sustainable menstrual health, at the 4th Annual Innovations Pitch Competition on “A Healthier Global Community Addressing the Twin Challenges of Pandemic Preparedness and Impact of Climate Change.”
2021:Â Contributor and Working Committee member of the National Menstrual Hygiene Management Strategy 2021 in Bangladesh.
2020-21:Â Grantee of Monash Graduate Scholarship to pursue a PhD at Monash University, Australia.
2020-21:Â Monash International Tuition Scholarship to pursue a PhD at Monash University, Australia.
2020:Â Winner of country level storytelling competition at the Regional Alumni Workshop organized by Australia Awards Scholarship Program in Sri Lanka.
2017:Â Grantee of WLGH Leadership Fellowship Award” to attend and present on “How to Achieve Gender Parity in Global Health” at the Women Leaders in Global Health conference at Stanford University.
2016:Â Travel sponsorship by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to speak as a scientific track speaker on 'improving menstrual hygiene management for girls in Bangladeshi schools, in the context of larger gender and school WASH strategies' in the Healthy Birth, Growth, and Development track session of the Grand Challenges meeting in London, England.Â
2014-15:Â Grantee of Australia Awards Scholarship (AAS) to pursue a Master’s degree in Public Healthat the University of Melbourne, Australia.
2006:Â Academic Merit Scholarship from Jahangirnagar University for obtaining 1st Class 2nd Position in the Master of Social Science (MSS) program.
2006:Â Academic Supplementary Fund from Jahangirnagar University to conduct Thesis Fieldwork in the Master of Social Science (MSS) program.
2005:Â Academic Merit Scholarship’ from Jahangirnagar University for obtaining 1st Class 2nd Position in the Bachelor of Social Science (BSS) program.
2002-2004:Â Academic Supplementary Scholarship’ from Jahangirnagar University for obtaining good academic results in each part (I, II and III) of final exams to accomplish the Bachelor of Social Science (BSS) degree
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Innovations and Patents
Sultana icddr,b Reusable Cloth Pad: This pad is an improved and alternative solution to support the proper menstrual hygiene management (MHM) among menstruating women and girls in Bangladesh.Â
Sultana Washer and Dryer Bags: This innovation facilitates the discrete and hygienic maintenance of menstrual cloth
Jute Cellulose-Based Sanitary Pad: This innovation was developed in collaboration with Dr. Mubarak Ahamad Khan (Scientific Advisor, BJMC), which is a 100% biodegradable solution for menstrual hygiene management (MHM).
Machine to produce jute cellulose-based sanitary pads: Jute cellulose is a new material, and currently there is no machine available in the country to manufacture such pads. This innovation could will help mass production, develop business plan and explore options for further scale up and waste management.
Professional Affiliations
Member, American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH)
Member, Women and Girls at the Center for Development Community, USA
Member, Menstrual Health/Hygiene Platform, Bangladesh
Member, The University of Melbourne Alumni Association, Australia
Member, Australia Awards Scholarship Alumni Association, Bangladesh
2021:Â Sultana F,Unicomb L, Rahman M, Ali S, Southern DL, Yeasmin D, Sarkar R, Das KA, Nizame FA, Winch PJ, Luby SP. Pilot of a low-cost elementary school handwashing intervention in Bangladesh: acceptability, feasibility, and potential for sustainability. The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene. 2021. doi:10.4269/ajtmh.20-1335.
2021:Â Â Mahfuz MT, Sultana F, Hunter EC, Jahan F, Akand F, Khan S, et al. Teachers’ perspective on implementation of menstrual hygiene management and puberty education in a pilot study in Bangladeshi schools. Global Health Action. 2021;14(1):1955492. doi: 10.1080/16549716.2021.1955492.
2020:Â Â Jahan F, Nuruzzaman M, Sultana F, Mahfuz MT, Rahman M, Akhand F, Luby SP, Unicomb L, Winch, PJ. "Piloting an acceptable and feasible menstrual hygiene products disposal system in urban and rural schools in Bangladesh." BMC public health. 2020.20(1): 1-14.
2019:Â Â Yeasmin F, Sultana F, Unicomb L, Nizame FA, Rahman M, Kabir H, et al. Piloting a Shared Source Water Treatment Intervention among Elementary Schools in Bangladesh. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2019;101(5):984-93.
2018:Â Â Sultana F,Unicomb L, Nizame FN, Dutta NC, Ram PK, Luby SP. Acceptability and feasibility of sharing a soapy water system for handwashing in a low-income urban community in Dhaka, Bangladesh: a qualitative study. The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. 2018. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.17-0672.
2017:Â Â Sultana F,Nizame FA, Southern DL, Unicomb L, Winch PJ, Luby SP. Pilot of an Elementary School Cough Etiquette Intervention: Acceptability, Feasibility, and Potential for Sustainability. The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene. 2017;97(6):1876-85.
2017:Â Â Martin NA, Hulland KRS, Dreibelbis R, Sultana F, Winch PJ. Sustained adoption of water, sanitation and hygiene interventions: systematic review. Tropical medicine & international health: TM & IH. 2017;23:122--35. doi:10.1111/tmi.13011.
2013:Â Â Dreibelbis R, Hulland K, McDonald L, Sultana F, Schwab K, Winch P. What factors affect sustained adoption of clean water and sanitation technologies? A Systematic Review of Literature. Protocol London: EPPI Centre, Social Science Research Unit, Institute of Education, University of London.2013.
