The International Center for Equity in Health (ICEH) faculty members Aluisio Barros and Fernando Wehrmeister facilitated the 1st Workshop on Inequalities and Monitoring of Social Determinants of Health in Brasília on September 2-3, 2024. The workshop focused on addressing social determinants of health, particularly those related to vertically transmitted diseases.
The event, organized by PAHO with Dr. Miguel Angel Aragón López, involved Brazil's Ministry of Health, UNAIDS, and state teams from Amapá, Acre, Rondônia, Roraima, Mato Grosso do Sul, and Piauí. The objective was to enhance local capabilities in identifying and addressing inequities to improve prevention and care, in line with the UNAIDS 2021-2026 Global Strategy. 

Barros and Wehrmeister led discussions on measuring health inequalities, including developing a preliminary monitoring framework for social determinants and identifying strengths and weaknesses in state-level analyses to support municipal implementation.

Barros emphasized the importance of fighting against social health inequalities, stating, "By raising awareness and taking action, we can address the root causes that affect vulnerable groups”.

Wehrmeister added, "Our goal is to improve local strategies to reduce the impact of socially determined diseases by 2030."

This workshop contributed to strengthening Brazil's health monitoring systems, aligning with global health equity initiatives.  ICEH's involvement underscores its commitment to integrating academic expertise with real-world solutions to foster health equity.