Season 2 Episode 9: Breaking Barriers Rethinking Primary Dysmenorrhea

We were honored to host Dr. Nachizya Edith Namukanga, a passionate public health researcher whose work is transforming how we understand and respond to adolescent health in Zambia.Her focus is on Primary dysmenorrhea a silent but widespread challenge that affects countless adolescent girls. Dr. Namukanga's journey began not in a lab, but in classrooms where she witnessed girls quietly battling pain, missing exams and even leaving school altogether.What makes her research remarkable is her approach as she doesn't see girls as subjects, but as partners. Through participatory workshops, co-designed tools and open community dialogues, she ensures that their lived experiences directly shape interventions, policies and advocacy.This episode is more than a conversation about health it's about agency, dignity and the power of listening to young women's voices.