Prior to joining GHC, Fatsani Banda was working at a bank in Lilongwe. She yearned to be a part of the solution to the many health inequities she witnessed growing up in Malawi. From a young age, Fatsani believed unequivocally that healthcare was a human right. 

With a degree in journalism and no experience in healthcare, she was at a loss for how to pursue a career in health. When she learned about GHC and was accepted to be a fellow in 2012, she still wasn’t sure if she could play a meaningful role without any medical training. 

As a Procurement and Logistics Coordinator at Partners In Health (PIH) in Malawi, Fatsani managed a $500,000+ budget for the purchase and delivery of clinical items, as well as the construction of new surgical wards. In partnership with the Ministry of Health and UNICEF, Fatsani also helped implement an electronic stock management system for tracking drugs and essential commodities. She realized the importance of myriad skill sets in expanding access to healthcare and committed to staying in the sector. 

Following her fellowship, Fatsani remained with PIH Malawi as an Operation Manager for two years, overseeing procurement, transport, and logistics. When Ebola hit West Africa, Fatsani was spurred to action and joined the PIH team in Liberia, working as an Operations Manager to support and strengthen the country’s health systems. In the wake of COVID-19, Fatsani brought all of her experience and training to bear on co-leading efficient PIH operations in response to COVID-19.