Podcast · Tech & Science

The Last Mile

We increasingly need the social and behavioural sciences to help us achieve the goals outlined in the Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD) roadmap and particularly ‘the last miles’ of NTD elimination and control. Join us as we interview guests from across the NTD community, hearing their stories, and

New episodes: Now and then
Typical length: 36 min
Latest: 3 Sep 2026
Language: English

Latest episode

3 Sep 2026 · 33 min

Launching the Africa Regional Chapter: An Interview with Martha Mberu

After a brief hiatus, iCHORDS is excited to kick off a new podcast episode with the announcement of the iCHORDS Africa University Chapters! Join Dr. Alison Krentel for a relaxed conversation with Martha Mberu , the newly appointed Regional Manager for Africa. In this episode, we introduce the new iCHORDS Africa chapters and hear directly from Martha about her vision for the chapters. Listen to Martha as she shares her thoughts on the importance of engaging youth in the fight to eliminate neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), as well as her perspective on the future and potential of the…

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Earlier episodes 12 most recent

S1 · E11 · 22 Nov 2023 · 36 min
Using public health economics in the fight against NTDs.
Economic terms such as effectiveness and efficiency are often used when evaluating programs, but what do these terms really mean? Tune in to hear Dr. McFarland from Emory University, and Dr. Dalaba from the University of Health and Allied Sciences, as they discuss the role that public health economics has in the fight against NTDs. A full bio for Dr. McFarland can be found here . A full bio for Dr. Dalaba can be found here . Links to more resources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2023) Edwards et al., (2013). Public health economics: a systematic review of guidance for the…
S1 · E10 · 30 Aug 2023 · 34 min
Using qualitative research methods to enhance MDA
Join Dr. Margaret baker, Dr. Beth Sutherland and Dr. Gemma Aellah to learn about the value and utility of qualitative research methods to enhance MDA. The guide featured in the podcast can be found by following the link: https://www.ntdtoolbox.org/toolbox-search/guide-improving-mda-using-qualitative-methods Speaker bios: Gem Aellah is Research Fellow in Health and Social Science in the Global Health and Infection Department at Brighton and Sussex Medical School, UK. Gem is part of the Social Science for Severe Stigmatizing Skin Neglected Tropical Diseases Foundation , a collaborative…
S1 · E9 · 7 Jul 2023 · 31 min
Using Outcome Harvesting to evaluate NTD programs
In this episode we hear from Geordie Woods from Sightsavers and Mack Giancola on how they used a participatory evaluation approach called: Outcome Harvesting to evaluate the Accelerate trachoma elimination programme. Full speaker bios: Mack Giancola has 15+ years of experience as an educator, public health leader, and evaluation consultant. He specializes in participatory evaluation approaches like outcome harvesting by combining qualitative and quantitative approaches with facilitation and sense-making. He is currently wrapping up his dissertation at the University of Illinois Chicago…
S2 · E1 · 17 May 2023 · 44 min
Let's focus on focus group discussions
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…
17 Nov 2022 · 39 min
Exploring Rapid Ethnography to Improve Community Programs
In this episode, we will be learning about Rapid Ethnography to get a better understanding of how this kind of research methodology can help us control and eliminate Neglected Tropical Diseases. To help us navigate this topic, we have brought on two special guests, Dr. Padmalochan Biswal and Dr. Satyabrata Routray. Podcast Guests Dr. Padmalochan Biswal Dr. Satyabrata Routray. Podcast Host(s) Dr. Alison Krentel Podcast Narrator and Producer: Leshawn Benedict
14 Oct 2022 · 36 min
Research Priorities for the Endgame: Hearing from Kikundi Community of Practice
iCHORDS Community of Practice is a platform for communication, collaboration and knowledge exchange within social and behavioural science research disciplines to address implementation gaps and current issues facing Neglected Tropical Disease programs. Given this, It is extremely important for iCHORDS to work together with other partners to understand challenges that are faced within communities so we as researchers can be responsive to needs. Today we will be speaking to the Chair of Kikundi Leadership Council, a Community of Practice for NTD Program Managers in Africa - to learn more about…
7 Jul 2022 · 44 min
Leveraging the Power of Campaign Integration to Improve NTD Programs
Health campaigns are defined as time-bound, intermittent activities that deal with particular epidemiologic challenges, quickly close delivery gaps or offer supplemental coverage for health initiatives. Integrating health campaigns can be used by programs and organizations to enable co-delivery and collaboration among public health efforts with the goal of improving the efficiency and effectiveness of several interventions. The notion of integration is especially salient in the WHO NTD 2021-2030 roadmap which emphasizes the need for cross-cutting approaches which include improving…
8 Apr 2022 · 45 min
Implementation Research: Rethinking Our Approach to NTD Research
Implementation Research (IR) is a systematic approach that recognizes, understands, and addresses implementation bottlenecks and identifies optimal approaches for implementing health interventions, strategies, and policies. IR helps us improve our understanding of the challenges we face in the real world by enhancing our understanding of how real-world factors impact implementation. By doing so, IR sheds light on the intersection between what can be achieved in theory and what happens in practice. Given the importance of IR as a tool to improve interventions in the neglected tropical…
12 Jan 2022 · 56 min
Tips for Writing a Winning Research Proposal
A request for proposal (RFP) is a document that announces a project, explains it, and invites eligible researchers or organizations to submit bids to complete it. Developing an effective research proposal to submit to the RFP, in public health and global health, is an essential step towards funding research initiatives. Given the role of the proposal in outlining the steps that will be taken to answer a research question, we set out to guide our community towards some of the expectations of what makes a good research proposal. To help us navigate the do’s and don'ts of research proposals, we…
14 Dec 2021 · 34 min
It's Time for Fairness in Research Partnerships
One of the things we have failed to notice in the evolution of global health ethics has been the neglect of research and implementation partnerships as the context for a wide range of unfair and sometimes inequitable practices. There aren't many frameworks, benchmarks or standards on best practices for governmental, corporate, non-profit, or academic collaborations. This is particularly true for international collaborative research and innovation involving low- and middle-income countries. This is where the Research Fairness Initiative (RFI) hopes to make a difference. The RFI is a…
12 Nov 2021 · 35 min
Walking Together: The Value of Participatory Research Methods
Participatory research approaches facilitate direct collaboration with communities and those affected by the issues being studied within research studies, methods, and frameworks. These approaches ensure the interests and viewpoints of the people affected by diseases or illnesses are heard and better understood throughout research studies. Using participatory research paradigms is especially important within the Neglected Tropical diseases (NTDs) space, where over 1.7 billion people are affected across many different communities worldwide. Each of these communities are different, so it is…
17 Oct 2021 · 1 min
The Last Mile Podcast Trailer
Subscribe today and join us as we interview guests from across the Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD) community, hearing their stories, and how the work they are doing contributes to the last miles of Neglected Tropical Disease elimination and control Follow us on Twitter: @iCHORDS_COP

About The Last Mile

The Last Mile is a English tech & science podcast from iCHORDS. Melo plays each episode straight from the publisher's own feed — no ads added, no account needed — and remembers where you stopped, in this browser only.

Publisher: iCHORDS
Language: English
Category: Tech & Science
New episodes: Now and then
Typical length: 36 min
Latest episode: 3 Sep 2026
Feed: RSS — paste into any podcast app
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1590712523
Rights: iCHORDS

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