In the opening episode, Susan Cole and Dr Vanessa Apea set the tone for the series with a powerful call to move beyond awareness of health inequities and towards meaningful action.
This episode was streamed live on Monday 9 March 2026, 5–5.30pm
In Episode 3 of Rooted & Rising, Susan Cole and Dr Vanessa Apea explored some of the key health inequities continuing to affect Black women — including HIV prevention, menopause and maternal health. Leading HIV and sexual health consultant Dr Nneka Nwokolo...
Jacqueline Shepherd speaks to Susan Cole about Black women’s health inequalities and Skin Like Mine – the HIV prevention programme by and for Black Londoners changing conversations around HIV, stigma and self-care
Positive Health returned for Season 2 with an important and wide-ranging discussion on HIV inequalities affecting Black communities across the globe. Episode 1 featured powerful conversations with acclaimed HIV advocate and journalist Juan Michael Porter II and Kenyan...
Episode 2 of Rooted & Rising explored storytelling, visibility, mental health and the systems shaping Black women’s health. Award-winning journalist Melissa Sigodo spoke about the devastating impact of Black women being overlooked in mainstream media, including...
Shay Kaur Grewal, Mark Thompson and Susan Cole discuss “Skin Like Mine” – the HIV prevention programme by and for Black Londoners, delivered by One Voice Network and funded by Do It London
Phoenix Health Movement is delighted to announce the launch of a new set of video resources for Black & migrant women with HIV about mental health, co-produced with 4M Network of Mentor Mothers. These videos provide empowering, reliable and engaging information,...
Co-hosts Susan Cole and Denis Onyango are joined by Ophelia Haanyama and Dr Michael Brady. They will be discussing the pressing issues around HIV affecting Black communities, and solutions to the challenges faced. This episode was streamed live on Monday 24 November...
Co-hosts Susan Cole and Denis Onyango are joined by HIV Consultant & menopause specialist Dr Nneka Nwokolo, and HIV advocate & CEO of Red Ribbon Living Well Husseina Hamza. They will be discussing the pressing issues around HIV affecting Black communities, and...
Black women are at increased risk of HIV in London, according to a new report. Susan Cole was interviewed on behalf of Phoenix Health Movement by Thomas Magill from BBC London News about HIV inequities affecting Black women, including barriers to testing and actions...
Susan Cole was interviewed on BBC London Radio, on behalf of Phoenix Health Movement, about Black women in London being at higher risk of HIV. She highlights that this is linked to “intersecting forms of stigma, discrimination and disadvantage” that Black women...
Co-hosts Susan Cole and Denis Onyango are joined by guests Dr Rageshri Dhairyawan and Rebecca Mbewe to discuss the pressing issues around HIV affecting Black communities. YouTube Shorts from Episode 3More people are needed for HIV researchAdvice to Black women...
Zero Stigma Day is a grassroots awareness campaign that mobilises and unites people, organisations, and entire countries across the world to take action against HIV stigma. The campaign was conceived by our Co-Founder Dr Vanessa Apea, as Medical Director of Naz in...
In Episode 3 of Positive Health Co-hosts Susan Cole & Denis Onyango are joined by guests Dr Annabelle Sowemimo and Angelina Namiba to discuss HIV and Black communities. YouTube Shorts from Episode 3Advice to a woman newly diagnosed with HIVAdvice to Black women...
Susan Cole attended the launch event of the UK AIDS Memorial Quilt Display at Tate Modern’s Turbine Hall. For the first time in history the entire UK AIDS Memorial Quilt was laid out. The monumental work is a powerful piece of social history, telling the stories of...
Susan Cole presented at this year’s BASHH Conference in Edinburgh in the session focused on the UKHSA HIV Report and the limitations of healthcare provision to underserved communities. Her presentation focused on community insights on the drivers of the inequities...
Susan Cole and Denis Onyango are joined by HIV and AIDS activist Eliane Becks Nininahazwe, Lead Commissioner London HIV Prevention Programme and HIV community leader Marc Thompson, and Florence Eshalomi MP for Vauxhall and Camberwell Green They discuss HIV and Black...
Susan Cole delivered the opening presentation of the 16th AIDSImpact Conference in Casablanca. Her presentation highlighted the intersecting forms of discrimination and disadvantage affecting women with HIV globally, sharing community insights on the actions needed to...
The International Day of Action for Women’s Health 2025 organised by Chelsea and Westminster NHS Foundation Trust in collaboration with CW+, ARC, NHS Hiyos, Hounslow Council and local organisations. The event brought together numerous health experts and lived...
On Friday 16th May 2025, the Black Women’s Health Manifesto Collective met in London. Co - chaired by Professor Jenny Douglas and Dr Vanessa Apea, key leaders and strategic drivers of the Collective, the meeting brought together healthcare professionals, activists,...
During this webinar, facilitated by Juan Michael Porter II, Susan Cole (Phoenix Health Movement), Riko Boone (Treatment Action Group), and Matthew Rose (Human Rights Campaign) had a bold and honest discussion on the future of HIV reporting. Together, they examined...
Susan Cole participated in the first parliamentary meeting of the APPG on Black Health, chaired by Paulette Hamilton MP with CAHN as the secretariat, Reproductive Equity & Fibroids was the topic of discussion. Fibroids disproportionately impact women of colour....
Susan Cole and Denis Onyango were joined by phenomenal guests: Dr Vanessa Apea from SHARE Research Collaborative (also Phoenix Health Movement Co-Founder!) and Rev. Jide Macaulay CEO of House of Rainbow & Co-Chair of One Voice Network (OVN). We discussed a wide...
Susan Cole attended the BHIVA Spring Conference 2025. There were many great presentations some are mentioned below. Badru Male from PositiveEast presented on his co-production with faith leaders. He talked about their development of faith-based assets to improve HIV...
On behalf of Phoenix Health Movement and GNP+, Susan Cole spoke the 15th International Workshop on Women & HIV 2025 in Barcelona. For the debate on the proposition “Women living with HIV should receive preventative statin therapy” Susan was paired with healthcare...
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Susan attends and contributes at the summit
Phoenix Health Movement’s Executive Director Susan Cole presented at this event in Lambeth Town Hall by Africa Advocacy Foundation and Caribbean & African Network. She highlighted the intersecting health inequalities affecting Black women across disease areas,...
In Episode 3 of Rooted & Rising, Susan Cole and Dr Vanessa Apea explored some of the key health inequities continuing to affect Black women — including HIV prevention, menopause and maternal health. Leading HIV and sexual health consultant Dr Nneka Nwokolo...
Jacqueline Shepherd speaks to Susan Cole about Black women’s health inequalities and Skin Like Mine – the HIV prevention programme by and for Black Londoners changing conversations around HIV, stigma and self-care
Positive Health returned for Season 2 with an important and wide-ranging discussion on HIV inequalities affecting Black communities across the globe. Episode 1 featured powerful conversations with acclaimed HIV advocate and journalist Juan Michael Porter II and Kenyan...