University of Washington Global Health E-Learning

Mercy James is a health promotion practitioner with a vast experience in HIV and AIDS Programming. Her knowledge and skills spans over thirteen years of experience in program coordination, implementation and management of HIV interventions. She works with young people and adults focusing on behavioral aspects of HIV at institutions of higher learning, the workplace and at community level, through awareness and knowledge creation, capacity building, peer education and behavior change communication. Over the years, she has trained and mentored more than 2000 youth and 120 adult work place peer educators drawn from several universities in the Western Region of Kenya including: Maseno University, Rongo University and Kisumu National Polytechnic. Additionally, Mercy is a facilitator for Shuga Evidence Based Behavioural Intervention (EBI). Through the years, she has trained over 100 Shuga youth facilitators on behalf of Global Communication Institute (GlOBCOM), Catholic Medical Mission Board (CMMB), Daraja United Women and Youth Empowerment (DAUWOYE), Afya Ziwani Project and HIV Service Delivery Support Activity (HSDSA) projects implemented by National Organization of Peer Educators (NOPE) and Center for the Study of Adolescence (CSA) in Kenya. She also has a wealth of experience in supporting health research specifically, development of training manuals, training of field enumerators, quality control of data collection, supervision of field teams and data collection (both electronic and paper-based). Some of the research programs/projects she has supported include: The Division of National Malaria Program- Ministry of Health, Kenya, USAID Feed the Future Project ZOI carried out by Kantar Public-Kenya, TNS RMS East Africa, Population Services Kenya (PSKenya), APHIAplus Western Kenya Project, DREAMS Girl Roster study and Medical Researchers, Social Science and Development (MERSS). Current role She is currently working at the Maseno University AIDS Control Unit as a HIV demonstrator where she plans and manages HIV prevention interventions for the students, staff and members of the surrounding community. She also doubles up as a Learner Support Assistant for the School of Public Health and Community Development where she offers technical support to students pursuing their degree programs online through the University eLearning Management System. Further, she is a mentor in the Nuffic-funded enGEndering Mentorship (e-GEM) Project that supports young female students with specific focus on those from challenging socioeconomic backgrounds through a structured mentorship program in Maseno University. Educational Background Mercy is currently pursuing a Master of Public Health in Health Promotion and International Health at Maseno University, Kenya. She has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biomedical Sciences and Technology from Maseno University. In addition, she holds professional certificates in Leadership and Management in Health, Project Management in Global Health, Policy Development and Advocacy for Global Health, Monitoring and Evaluation in Global Health and Fundamentals of Global Health Research from The University of Washington Global Health E-learning, USA. Further, she holds a certificate in Gender Equality and Women Empowerment from the Commonwealth of Learning, Canada. Languages ★★★★★ English, ★★★★☆ Swahili, ★★★★☆ Dholuo Motivation Mercy is motivated by impacting other people's lives as it gives her a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment.