This episode of the Last Mile Podcast will discuss how to conduct a successful focus group discussion with Dr. Doris Njomo from the Kenya Medical Research Institute, and Naomi Caplan and Dr. Mekuriaw Alemayehu from the NALA foundation.

Here you will find the link to the Beyond MDA report that is discussed in the podcast: https://www.nalafoundation.org/_files/ugd/50e284_2a0cef39ca2745c1a38fd3d16bc277a3.pdf

Here is a link to a quick guide on focus groups: https://www.ichords.org/ichords-research-methods-series-focus-group-discussion/

Full Speaker Bios:

Dr. Doris Njomo is a Principal Research Scientist in the area of social and behavioural studies at Kenya Medical Research Institute. Amongst other researchers, she has been conducting implementation research studies for Preventive Chemotherapy NTDs using mixed methods approach for over 15 years and has published several manuscripts and mentored postgraduate students on qualitative research methods.

Naomi Caplan is the Head of Learning & Innovation at NALA. Previously a teacher, her interest in addressing the root causes of poverty led her to pursue a career in public health. With an MSEd and MPH, she now oversees NALA’s educational arm, which includes designing assessments that inform, evaluate, and amplify the work.

Dr. Mekuriaw Alemayehu holds a PhD in public health, focused on visceral leishmaniasis and co-infection with HIV. He is currently a project manager for NALA Foundation as well as a postgraduate director and principal investigator of different projects at Gondar University in Ethiopia. Mekuriaw has 13 years of experience working with governmental and non-governmental organizations, including the WHO.