2006年VOA标准英语-Millions Benefit From Measles Campaign in Niger

By Gilbert da Costa
Abuja
08 October 2006 

measles1 receives medication while his mother Ladi Kabir, left, watches in Kano hospital, Nigeria (File photo) " src="/upimg/allimg/070429/1605590.jpg" width="210" border="0" /> Five year-old Abubaker Kabir who is suffering from measles receives medication while his mother Ladi Kabir, left, watches in Kano hospital, Nigeria (File photo)

In Nigeria, health officials who have fanned out across southern Nigeria are wrapping up a campaign to vaccinate² more than 30 million children below the age of 15 in only 10 days.  VOA's Gilbert da Costa traveled to the southeastern town of Owerri to see how such a massive campaign is conducted.

-----

It was an unusual mix of screaming children and smiling mothers at the Avu Health Center in Owerri, the capital of Imo state in southeastern Nigeria. Hundreds of mothers brought their children to the center for a measles shot and a polio booster.

Nigeria, Africa's most populous³ country, is conducting an aggressive campaign to check an alarming increase in deadly, yet easily preventable diseases.

Kate Duru, whose four children were vaccinated⁴ at the Avu Center, told VOA that she was delighted, and urged other parents to take advantage of the free vaccination⁵.

"Every parent should gather their children and take them to the place and immunize them. It is better for them to bring their children to immunize them," she said. "It helps our children, protecting them from measles and other sicknesses."

Measles is a leading cause of death among children in Nigeria. The Health Ministry⁶ says several hundred die every year.

With the public health system in crisis, routine immunization represents the one of the simplest ways of reducing child mortality in Nigeria.

Victor Muruako, chairman of the Owerri West local government, says a successful campaign is extremely important.

"We have ensured that the people are adequately enlightened on this campaign, because measles and polio are two issues that are very serious," noted⁷ Muruako. "You find some of these children disabled and handicapped, because they did not receive particularly the right vaccination at the right age. We do this by public enlightenment, sensitization, mobilization and by supporting the health department, and also working in partnership⁸ with other donors⁹ to ensure that the programs are well executed."

In addition to measles inoculation¹⁰, children are receiving polio vaccines¹¹ and vitamin-A to boost their immune system, as part of a unique integrated health campaign.

The World Health Organization says routine immunization coverage¹² last year reached only 35 percent of the target population.

The Nigerian government, with the support of international partners, such as the WHO and UNICEF, has resolved shortcomings that plagued previous immunization efforts.

More than 110,000 health workers have been mobilized, and 35 million doses of measles vaccines, 28 million doses of oral polio vaccines and vitamin A have been provided.

Volunteers canvassed¹³ their communities in the days leading up to the measles campaign, ensuring high turnouts in most parts of the south.

Adolphus Okolo, who runs the immunization program in Imo state, is positive the 100 percent target is achievable.

"We are optimistic that we will achieve a very high level of success," said Okolo. "We are used to campaigns in Imo state, and we have never failed in achieving the target. We must have to achieve, and we are going to achieve what we expect to achieve."

The singing and celebratory atmosphere at the crowded Avu Health Center suggests his optimism is not misplaced.

1 measles   

n.麻疹，风疹，包虫病，痧子

参考例句：

• The doctor is quite definite about Tom having measles.医生十分肯定汤姆得了麻疹。
• The doctor told her to watch out for symptoms of measles.医生叫她注意麻疹出现的症状。

2 vaccinate   

vt.给…接种疫苗；种牛痘

参考例句：

• Local health officials then can plan the best times to vaccinate people.这样，当地的卫生官员就可以安排最佳时间给人们接种疫苗。
• Doctors vaccinate us so that we do not catch smallpox.医生给我们打预防针使我们不会得天花。

3 populous   

adj.人口稠密的，人口众多的

参考例句：

• London is the most populous area of Britain.伦敦是英国人口最稠密的地区。
• China is the most populous developing country in the world.中国是世界上人口最多的发展中国家。

4 vaccinated   

[医]已接种的，种痘的，接种过疫菌的

参考例句：

• I was vaccinated against tetanus. 我接种了破伤风疫苗。
• Were you vaccinated against smallpox as a child? 你小时候打过天花疫苗吗？

5 vaccination   

n.接种疫苗，种痘

参考例句：

• Vaccination is a preventive against smallpox.种痘是预防天花的方法。
• Doctors suggest getting a tetanus vaccination every ten years.医生建议每十年注射一次破伤风疫苗。

6 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

7 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

8 partnership   

n.合作关系，伙伴关系

参考例句：

• The company has gone into partnership with Swiss Bank Corporation.这家公司已经和瑞士银行公司建立合作关系。
• Martin has taken him into general partnership in his company.马丁已让他成为公司的普通合伙人。

9 donors   

n.捐赠者( donor的名词复数 )；献血者；捐血者；器官捐献者

参考例句：

• Please email us to be removed from our active list of blood donors. 假如你想把自己的名字从献血联系人名单中删去，请给我们发电子邮件。
• About half this amount comes from individual donors and bequests. 这笔钱大约有一半来自个人捐赠及遗赠。 来自《简明英汉词典》

10 inoculation   

n.接芽；预防接种

参考例句：

• Travellers are reminded that inoculation against yellow fever is advisable. 提醒旅游者接种预防黄热病的疫苗是明智的。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Travelers are reminded that inoculation against yellow fever is advisable. 旅客们被提醒，注射黄热病预防针是明智的。 来自辞典例句

11 vaccines   

疫苗，痘苗( vaccine的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His team are at the forefront of scientific research into vaccines. 他的小组处于疫苗科研的最前沿。
• The vaccines were kept cool in refrigerators. 疫苗放在冰箱中冷藏。

12 coverage   

n.报导，保险范围，保险额，范围，覆盖

参考例句：

• There's little coverage of foreign news in the newspaper.报纸上几乎没有国外新闻报道。
• This is an insurance policy with extensive coverage.这是一项承保范围广泛的保险。

13 canvassed   

v.（在政治方面）游说( canvass的过去式和过去分词 )；调查（如选举前选民的）意见；为讨论而提出（意见等）；详细检查

参考例句：

• He canvassed the papers, hunting for notices of jobs. 他仔细查阅报纸，寻找招工广告。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• The stirring event was well canvassed. 那桩惊人的事情已经是满城风雨。 来自英汉文学 - 汤姆历险