17 January 2007 - Two hours after the engine of his canoe failed on River Niger on October 3, 2006, Daniel Chibogwu Umeh, Anambra State epidemiologist was tired but not ready to give up on his determination to contribute his quota to halting the transmission of the wild polio virus (WPV) in Nigeria. He walked into his makeshift accommodation in Nzam, headquarters of Anambra West Local Government Area, where he stayed back to coordinate the Integrated Measles Campaign in the area.

Implementation activities in Anambra West have become synonymous with the name “Umeh,” as he is the only state government official who volunteers to coordinate immunization in this area which is only accessible through the River Niger during the rains.

Members of the State Team led by the Director Primary Health Care, Dr. Nnamdi Onwughalu, have enormous respect for “Umeh,” because of his exemplary commitment to the work and his passion to reach every eligible child, no matter the sacrifice required. Comments about him vary from “hardworking, contented, and articulate man who takes on tough challenges”, and “an honest gentleman” who “accepts to work in hard to reach areas even before being requested to do so,” to “he goes out of his way to meet the need of others, at personal inconvenience”.

Daniel has the responsibility for disease surveillance, monitoring disease trends and epidemic control in the state. He has been working in Anambra West variously as independent monitor, core trainer, technical facilitator and state supervisor since 1998. He sometimes had to rely on personal funds to conduct immunization activities. In the run-up to the measles campaign, Daniel had to move with any available public transport, to conduct the training of team members in three locations. That is why he still has fond memories of 2004 when he was provided a vehicle to supervise during the dry season

He plans to intensify efforts in tracking vaccinators, like those he traced to a remote settlement and found they were not on duty. The vaccinators never expected any supervisor to come that far.

- By Nosa Owens-Ibie