Leadership in action: Strengthening HIV prevention systems and advancing innovation in Malawi

Sara M. Allinder, MPP, is Deputy Director of the Center for Innovation in Global Health at Georgetown University and Program Director of the Blantyre Prevention Strategy (BPS). She also is a co-investigator for Malawi’s PathToScale Injectable PrEP implementation science study. Ms. Allinder has more than 20 years’ experience in global health, foreign policy, international development, human rights, and program management. From 2016-2020, she was Senior Fellow and Executive Director of the Global Health Policy Center at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) where she was lead for HIV and supported activities on nutrition, other infectious diseases, global health security, and women’s and family health. Ms. Allinder also spent more than a decade working on the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) in Washington, DC, and in Uganda where she served as Country Coordinator of the PEPFAR program (2013-15). In four stints at the Office of the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator and Health Diplomacy, U.S. Department of State (2003-16), Ms. Allinder was a senior advisor on PEPFAR management, operations, and policy issues. She also was policy adviser in the Office of International Health Affairs in an earlier role at the State Department. Ms. Allinder holds a Master of Public Policy, concentration in International Development and Health, and a Bachelor of Arts, magna cum laude, in Political Science and Sociology, from The American University, Washington, DC. She is currently a Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) candidate at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill Gillings School of Global Public Health.

Sara M. Allinder, MPP, is Deputy Director of the Center for Innovation in Global Health at Georgetown University and Program Director of the Blantyre Prevention Strategy (BPS). She also is a co-investigator for Malawi’s PathToScale Injectable PrEP implementation science study. Ms. Allinder has more than 20 years’ experience in global health, foreign policy, international development, human rights, and program management. From 2016-2020, she was Senior Fellow and Executive Director of the Global Health Policy Center at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) where she was lead for HIV and supported activities on nutrition, other infectious diseases, global health security, and women’s and family health. Ms. Allinder also spent more than a decade working on the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) in Washington, DC, and in Uganda where she served as Country Coordinator of the PEPFAR program (2013-15). In four stints at the Office of the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator and Health Diplomacy, U.S. Department of State (2003-16), Ms. Allinder was a senior advisor on PEPFAR management, operations, and policy issues. She also was policy adviser in the Office of International Health Affairs in an earlier role at the State Department. Ms. Allinder holds a Master of Public Policy, concentration in International Development and Health, and a Bachelor of Arts, magna cum laude, in Political Science and Sociology, from The American University, Washington, DC. She is currently a Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) candidate at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill Gillings School of Global Public Health.

I am a dedicated Public Health researcher and Quality Manager at the Blantyre District Health Office, Malawi Ministry of Health. With a strong background in general and HIV clinical practice, I bring a unique blend of clinical practice and public health knowledge to my work. As a Quality Manager I am very passionate about the quality of care across the health system, with a particular focus in HIV Prevention services including Sexually Transmitted Infections. I excel at triangulating community insights with quality improvement root causes to develop innovative change ideas that drive meaningful impact.

I am also a leader in PrEP stigma reduction efforts, working tirelessly to promote awareness, acceptance and uptake of Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis in Malawi. I amMy aim is to reduce the burden of HIV and improve health outcomes for individuals and communities.

Sara M. Allinder, MPP, is Deputy Director of the Center for Innovation in Global Health at Georgetown University and Program Director of the Blantyre Prevention Strategy (BPS). She also is a co-investigator for Malawi’s PathToScale Injectable PrEP implementation science study. Ms. Allinder has more than 20 years’ experience in global health, foreign policy, international development, human rights, and program management. From 2016-2020, she was Senior Fellow and Executive Director of the Global Health Policy Center at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) where she was lead for HIV and supported activities on nutrition, other infectious diseases, global health security, and women’s and family health. Ms. Allinder also spent more than a decade working on the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) in Washington, DC, and in Uganda where she served as Country Coordinator of the PEPFAR program (2013-15). In four stints at the Office of the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator and Health Diplomacy, U.S. Department of State (2003-16), Ms. Allinder was a senior advisor on PEPFAR management, operations, and policy issues. She also was policy adviser in the Office of International Health Affairs in an earlier role at the State Department. Ms. Allinder holds a Master of Public Policy, concentration in International Development and Health, and a Bachelor of Arts, magna cum laude, in Political Science and Sociology, from The American University, Washington, DC. She is currently a Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) candidate at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill Gillings School of Global Public Health.

Chrissy Chabwera Banda is a Social Behaviour Change Specialist currently working as a civil servant at Blantyre District Heath Office in Malawi as Principal Health Promotion Officer. She has a Master’s Degree in Health and Behaviour Change Communication and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Environmental Health both obtained from the University of Malawi, The Polytechnic in 2022 and 2008 respectively.

Her primarily role is planning, implementing, monitoring and evaluation of all Health Promotion activities for all health programs in Blantyre, Malawi. These include Social Mobilization, Behaviour Change Communication, Advocacy, and Public Relations. In the HIV prevention cascade, she leads the demand creation work streams which uses the Human Centered Design Community Lab Model and the Health communications under the Blantyre Prevention Strategy (BPS).

During the 2024 International AIDS Conference in Munich-Germany, she was one of the speakers for the BPS satellite which showcased a panel on “Enabling Effective HIV Prevention Through Capacitated District-based HIV Prevention Systems”. Additionally, she is also an IAS EARN Fellow after attending the 2024 HIV Vaccine Advocacy Academy in Windhoek, Namibia.

Gilbertha Chisamba was born on November 22, 1988, in Lilongwe, Malawi. Gilbertha attended Likuni Girls Secondary School, where she developed a passion for nursing and midwifery. She pursued her dream at Mzuzu University in Malawi, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2013.

Gilbertha began her nursing career at Zomba Central Hospital in Zomba. Her dedication and compassion earned her to coordinate HIL/AIDS primary prevention program at Blantyre Personal Life. Currently she is pursing her Masters degree in Child Health nursing at Kamuzu University of Health Sciences in Malawi.

Gilbertha is married to her loving husband, Owen, and they have two beautiful children, Novahiwa and Akuzike. In her free time, she enjoys reading, gardening, and listening to music.

Emily Kayimba, a Master of Public Health, has over 23 years of experience in public health, gender-based violence prevention, and community empowerment. She has led successful programs addressing HIV, sexual and reproductive health, and mental health for marginalized communities.