World Health Organization Urges Action to Improve Adolescent Health

BY ALLISON KOZICHAROW AND BERNICE BORN

More than 3,000 adolescents die every day, totaling 1.2 million deaths a year, from largely preventable causes, according to a new report from the World Health Organization (WHO).

“Adolescents have been entirely absent from national health plans for decades,” says Flavia Bustreo, M.D., Assistant Director-General, WHO. “Relatively small investments focused on adolescents now will not only result in healthy and empowered adults who thrive and contribute positively to their communities, but will also result in healthier future generations, yielding enormous returns.”

Youth is supposed to be a healthy time of life. Yet many adolescents — between the ages of 10 and 19 years — die from accidents, suicide, violence and complications from pregnancy. Many serious illnesses in adults result from adolescent tobacco use, sexually transmitted infections such as HIV, poor nutrition and poor exercise habits.

The WHO report states that pregnancy complications, such as hemorrhage, sepsis, obstructed labor and complications from unsafe abortions, are the top cause of death among 15- to 19-year-old girls. WiRED International will soon launch a series on maternal and child health, which will cover all these complications as well healthy practices during pregnancy and after childbirth.

WiRED believes that educating people, particularly young people, about diseases, sanitation, safe water and wellness will make them healthier and stronger. WiRED has designed its Health Learning Center training modules precisely to allow and encourage underserved populations to take charge of their own health. For example, WiRED’s certificate program in Kenya has graduated hundreds of young people who study modules and take comprehensive exams on the material. Graduates with this knowledge lead healthier lives and often become health leaders in their communities.