Going the Extra Mile, TKMI Angola Field Worker Invests His Salary to Fight Malaria

By Gertrude Wafula and Emilia Wime

In the municipality of Ombaja, traveling is often a challenge, not only for the volunteers who spend hours in the scorching sun, but also for the field workers who monitor activities. They often have to take long treks on foot or hire a bike, which is always costly.
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Daniel shows off his new motor bike

Daniel Mwatioweni Lucas has gone the extra mile! Fighting malaria in his community is more than just a job; it is love for the community, and knowledge that your work can save lives when you are able to arrive in time to intervene. Daniel has been working with the Trans Cunene Malaria Initiative (TKMI) Angola since 2014 as volunteer, and is now a committed TKMI team member working to end malaria in the country. Reaching everyone in the community is difficult, he says. “ I needed a faster and easier way to reach my community, and so I have bought this. I am taking her home…” (Referring to the bike, to which he has given his wife’s name, Quiteria Bernarda). Amalia, a TKMI team member jokingly reminded him…"and you need to take salt, soap and sugar home too…” to which we all laughed as he smiled, saying “I have…”
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Daniel had just received his salary, which had been delayed due to a waiting period for the opening of his bank account. In Cunene, community members like Daniel face daily challenges. Therefore, Daniel’s decision to spend his salary on a new form of transportation that will enable him to reach more community members is wonderful. It is more than a job, and for this, Daniel gets the employee of the year award! We are proud to have such a member on the team.

Amalia congraculates Daniel as Celima looks on

All smiles, Project manager Emilia Wime shows Daniel the photo of his new motor bike