The Ministry of Health in New Zealand is joining the World Health Organization (WHO) as it calls for action to eliminate health inequities.

For more than 50 years World Health Day (April 7) has been used to create awareness around priority areas of concern for the World Health Organization.

This year’s campaign is focused on building a fairer, healthier world for everyone. It acknowledges the world is still an unequal one and highlights the principle: “the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health is one of the fundamental rights of every human being without distinction of race, religion, political belief, economic or social condition”.

“In New Zealand, we also acknowledge that people have differences in health that are not only avoidable but unfair and unjust,” says Ministry of Health Deputy Director-General Mâori Health John Whaanga.

“Health inequities are preventable and achieving equity within the New Zealand health system is a priority", he added.