UNITED NATIONS, May 16 (Xinhua) -- More than 3,000 adolescents die every day from preventable causes, a UN spokesman said Tuesday, citing a UN-backed report.
"The World Health Organization (WHO) and its partners say that more than 3,000 adolescents die every day, totalling 1.2 million deaths a year, from largely preventable causes, such as road traffic injuries, lower respiratory infections and suicide," said Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, at the daily news briefing.
More than two-thirds of these deaths occurred in low- and middle-income countries in Africa and South-East Asia in 2015, he said.
The new report says that most of these deaths can be prevented with good health services, education and social support, he said, noting that in many cases, adolescents who suffer mental health disorders, substance use or poor nutrition cannot access the prevention and care services they need, according to the spokesperson.
