Frank Banda, is from the Neno district of rural Malawi, born in Salafosi Village T/A Symon to a family of five children, Frank was educated at Naminjale Primary School and later at Chifunga Secondary School.
As an Orphan Frank’s education was supported by World Vision International from Primary school through to Soche College, where he studied HIV/AIDs Management with ABMA Education (2012).
After completing his education, Frank was a volunteer at Joyful Motherhood as an intern Fundraising Officer for 2 years, at Bwaila Hospital in Lilongwe. After working with Joyful Motherhood, Frank introduced a Maternal Child Neonatal Health (MCNH) initiative called the Uchembere Wangwiro initiative (UWI), the project aims at reducing Maternal Neonatal Deaths through the elimination of three delays that cause maternal deaths:
- Delay 1 is defined as the delay in seeking medical care.
- Delay 2 delay in reaching the medical facility
- Delay 3 delay in receiving appropriate treatment at the facility.
The initiative provides free mosquito nets, Wrappers (Zitenje) to vulnerable pregnant women who come to attend their Antenatal Care (ANC) with their husbands.
In 2017, Uchembere WaNgwiro registered as a non-profit organization called the SMILE MUMS FOUNDATION. The organisation’s approach entitles every pregnant mother to attend four antenatal care checks and aims to reduce maternal neonatal deaths due to severe illness, through the provision of sp Prophylaxis for Malaria, Ferrous Sulphate for Anemia and Albendazole.
Smile Mums Foundation operates in rural Lilongwe targeted villages around Nsaru Health Center. 