DEVELOPMENT REPORT - Vietnam and Malaria

DEVELOPMENT REPORT – September 16, 2002: Vietnam and Malaria¹

By Jill Moss²
13 Sep 2002, 19:45 UTC

This is the VOA Special English Development Report.

The World Health Organization reports a malaria control program in Vietnam has reduced the number of cases
by ninety percent.

The Roll Back Malaria study was carried out over five years in Vietnam’s southern Phan
Tien village. Officials say several methods were used to prevent and control the deadly
disease³.

Mosquito insects spread malaria. The disease can cause fever, head pain,
stomach sickness and uncontrollable shaking. The most deadly form of
malaria often causes a severe lack of iron in the blood. This is the most

common reason for death from the disease.

All villagers in the study were given special material, or nets, to cover their beds while they slept. These bednets
were treated with chemicals to kill mosquitoes. Research shows that children who sleep under such bednets are
fifty percent less likely to get malaria.

In addition, a community-based healthcare system was set up to provide early identification⁴ and quick treatment
of malaria. Ten community members were also appointed as health co-workers. Each year, they carried out
malaria studies at the end of the rainy season. The community health workers also taught the villagers how to
avoid malaria infection or seek treatment. At the end of the five-year program, the number of villagers with
malaria infection in their blood dropped from forty-two percent to four percent.

Kamini Mendis is the top advisor⁵ in the W-H-O Roll Back Malaria program. Doctor Mendis says community
involvement is necessary to guarantee success. This is especially true in farming areas where there are few health
services.

Doctor Mendis says other villages in Vietnam are now carrying out the Roll Back Malaria program. The W-H-O
also believes the program can be used successfully in Africa and other malaria-infected parts of the world. Up to
two-million people around the world die each year of malaria. Most victims are young children living in Africa
south of the Sahara Desert.

Since the development of chemically-treated bednets in the nineteen-eighties, no new method of controlling
malaria has been discovered. Bednets reduce malaria infection, but they cannot prevent or control the disease on
their own. So the W-H-O says identification and treatment are also important.

This VOA Special English Development Report was written by Jill Moss.

Adapted from a VOA story by Lisa Schlein

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1 malaria   

n.疟疾

参考例句：

• He had frequent attacks of malaria.他常患疟疾。
• Malaria is a kind of serious malady.疟疾是一种严重的疾病。

2 moss   

n.苔，藓，地衣

参考例句：

• Moss grows on a rock.苔藓生在石头上。
• He was found asleep on a pillow of leaves and moss.有人看见他枕着树叶和苔藓睡着了。

3 disease   

n.疾病，弊端

参考例句：

• The doctors are trying to stamp out the disease.医生正在尽力消灭这种疾病。
• He fought against the disease for a long time.他同疾病做了长时间的斗争。

4 identification   

n.视为同一，证明同一，确认

参考例句：

• He's made a formal identification of the body.他正式确认了死者身份。
• We should have identification card on the person when we go out.我们外出时应随身携带身份证。

5 advisor   

n.顾问，指导老师，劝告者

参考例句：

• They employed me as an advisor.他们聘请我当顾问。
• The professor is engaged as a technical advisor.这位教授被聘请为技术顾问。