04.09.2015

Editorial WHO Bulletin

Monitoring inequality: an emerging priority for health post-2015

World Health Organisation (WHO) - "The Millennium Development Goals focused on poverty and development and reducing inequalities between countries. Progress was monitored through national averages without adequate attention to within-country inequality. The post-2015 sustainable development goals (SDG) stress “leaving no one behind” – with goal 10 specifically calling for the reduction of inequality, within and among countries.

Monitoring of inequalities within countries focuses on indicators and dimensions of inequality that are particularly relevant to each country. Drawing upon the outputs of within-country inequality monitoring, policies can be tailored to be maximally effective in reducing inequalities." (Bulletin of the World Health Organization 2015;93:591-591A) Photo: Refugees at Yida refugee camp in South Sudan’s Unity State queue for hours for food and soap. As the camp swells and disease takes a toll, aid agencies are working to raise awareness about proper hygiene © Hannah McNeish/IRIN