It was a sad start to the year with the loss of Bob Keegan, former deputy director of the Global Immunization Division at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), who passed away on 16 January.  We dedicate this issue to Bob, who was mentor and inspiration to many polio eradicators, with his courage, professionalism, grace and good humour.

Rotary International is busy preparing for the organization’s birthday celebrations the week of 23 February. Once again, Rotarians around the world will mark the occasion by lighting up globally recognisable landmarks with the “End Polio Now” message.

Bill Gates has reiterated that polio eradication will remain the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s top priority in his 2012 Annual Letter, and Mia Farrow, UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, has just finished up a tour of Chad and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

And yes, for those of you who noticed, this issue has been published later than usual. We wanted the chance to bring you a wrap-up of the Independent Monitoring Board’s first report  for 2012.

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