CRC/C/15/Add.191 page 13 (b) Strengthen its efforts to detect and prevent diseases related to nuclear contamination; (c) Focus more on a long-term developmental approach to the assistance given to people through, inter alia, supporting United Nations initiatives in this area; (d) Take all appropriate measures, including seeking international cooperation, to prevent and combat the damaging effects of environmental degradation on children, including pollution of the environment and food products. Adolescent health/HIV/AIDS 57. With regard to adolescent health, the Committee is concerned at the rise in the number of children and adolescents addicted to drugs, alcohol and smoking. The Committee expresses concern about the lack of access, without parental consent, to medical counselling and advice. The Committee is also concerned about the large number of teenage abortions, this being the principal cause of maternal mortality. 58. While noting the State party’s efforts in the area of HIV/AIDS, the Committee remains concerned at: (a) The growing number of cases of HIV/AIDS among the youth; (b) The very serious impact of HIV/AIDS on the cultural, economic, political, social and civil rights and freedoms of children infected with or affected by HIV/AIDS, including the Convention’s general principles, in particular non-discrimination, health care, education, food and housing, as well as information and freedom of expression; (c) The absence of an effective national system to manage, monitor, implement and evaluate the efficiency of the State party’s HIV/AIDS prevention programmes and the lack of uniform standards regulating care, treatment, medical services and social assistance for people and families living with HIV; (d) adolescents. 59. Insufficient counselling services provided to people with HIV/AIDS, especially The Committee recommends that the State party: (a) Take the necessary measures to address the increase in alcohol abuse, smoking and drug addiction and provide adolescents with access to medical counselling and advice without parental consent, taking into consideration the evolving capacities of the child; (b) Ensure that adolescents have access to and are provided with education on reproductive health and other adolescent health issues, including mental health, as well as with child-sensitive and confidential counselling services;