It is with great sadness that we learned of the sudden passing on 21 September of our colleague, Dr. Engebert Mbunda.
Dr. Mbunda worked at the Ministry of Livestock Development and Fisheries in the United Republic of Tanzania and was a key to the successful implementation of various rabies elimination projects in the country which included leading the WHO-Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation pilot project.
Dr. Mbunda worked tirelessly on dog vaccination and rabies elimination campaigns and eagerly supported inter-sectoral collaboration. Between 2010 and 2012, joint efforts between the WHO Country Office in Tanzania and the ministries of Livestock and Fisheries Development and that of Health and Social Welfare allowed local government authorities in achieving unprecedented results: data on the incidence of human animal bites and cases of human rabies were collected; dog vaccinations, surveillance and diagnostic tests, supply and utilization of anti-rabies vaccines and anti-rabies sera were obtained during supportive supervision visits; and, district veterinary officer reports and mobile-phone reporting were initiated. Data collected represented key information for the assessment of the severity of human and animal rabies and for monitoring project results.
Dr. Mbunda’s sudden demise is a profound loss. He will be sadly missed and fondly remembered for his professionalism, determination and passion. Our thoughts are with his family.