2006年VOA标准英语-President Hosts White House Summit on Malaria

By Zulima Palacio
Washington, D.C.
15 December 2006
 
watch Malaria¹ Summit report

President Bush and his wife Laura hosted a White House summit on Malaria Thursday.  The conference brought together health ministers from countries affected² by malaria, health organizations, international donors³ and experts -- to discuss the latest and most effective ways to combat the disease.  Melinda Smith narrates⁴.

  
  
More than a million people die every year from malaria; the majority in Africa -- and most of them children under five years old. 

Now a White House initiative -- working together with African governments and international institutions -- will try to cut malaria-related deaths in half over the next few years. 

Julie Wallas is a senior malaria adviser⁵ for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and for the Presidential Malaria Initiative. "Every 30 seconds we lose an African child to malaria that can be prevented. We really do believe we can cut malaria mortality by 50 percent and we believe the time is now to do that," she said.

The plan includes four fast and effective approaches throughout Africa: the first two target the mosquitoes that spread the disease:  massive distribution of insecticide-treated mosquito nets, and indoor residential⁶ spraying of insecticide.

 
Majtenyi mother and her baby wait for treatment for the baby's severe malaria 
Added to those efforts: preventive treatment for pregnant women.  Last, but not least, the use of artemisinin-based combination therapy, which has proven to be effective against the growing drug resistance of the malaria parasite⁷. None of these methods by themselves can provide a total solution, but in combination they could make a difference. 

The mosquito nets represent one of the most important elements.  They keep the mosquitoes out, and when treated with insecticide, kill them.  The U.S. government, working with many African governments and international organizations, is targeting the most vulnerable segments of the population, children and pregnant women, for the distribution of free or inexpensive bed nets. 

 
Diara Mbaye shows how to treat a bednet 
Women in the Senegalese town of Thies are being taught how to treat bed nets with insecticides.  They are part of a group founded by USAID.  As months go by, says Julie Wallas, the women can treat the nets again at home. "The home treatments we do support those activities as well.  We target those who already have insecticide-treated nets that need to be retreated and we sponsor re-treatment campaigns." 

Experts consider the spraying of insecticide inside homes as very effective.  However many factors have to be taken into consideration, including environmental factors, population density⁸, cost and safe application.

"It is definitely not something the family can do it.  But spraying in any given area gives protection to all of the population,” says Wallas.

In addition to bed nets, preventive treatment for pregnant women also includes effective medication. "There is treatment, preventive therapy with a drug called SP that can be given to women and is completely safe in pregnancy⁹."

Many of those involved in the effort against malaria are also hoping for the discovery of an effective vaccine¹⁰.  So far, research in this direction has shown only limited results.  But scientists say a vaccine against malaria could be a reality within the next few years.

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 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

3 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》

4 narrates   

v.故事( narrate的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• It narrates the unconstitutional acts of James II. 它历数了詹姆斯二世的违法行为。 来自辞典例句
• Chapter three narrates the economy activity which Jew return the Occident. 第三章讲述了犹太人重返西欧后的经济活动。 来自互联网

5 adviser   

n.劝告者，顾问

参考例句：

• They employed me as an adviser.他们聘请我当顾问。
• Our department has engaged a foreign teacher as phonetic adviser.我们系已经聘请了一位外籍老师作为语音顾问。

6 residential   

adj.提供住宿的；居住的；住宅的

参考例句：

• The mayor inspected the residential section of the city.市长视察了该市的住宅区。
• The residential blocks were integrated with the rest of the college.住宿区与学院其他部分结合在了一起。

7 parasite   

n.寄生虫；寄生菌；食客

参考例句：

• The lazy man was a parasite on his family.那懒汉是家里的寄生虫。
• I don't want to be a parasite.I must earn my own way in life.我不想做寄生虫，我要自己养活自己。

8 density   

n.密集，密度，浓度

参考例句：

• The population density of that country is 685 per square mile.那个国家的人口密度为每平方英里685人。
• The region has a very high population density.该地区的人口密度很高。

9 pregnancy   

n.怀孕，怀孕期

参考例句：

• Early pregnancy is often accompanied by nausea.怀孕早期常有恶心的现象。
• Smoking during pregnancy increases the risk of miscarriage.怀孕期吸烟会增加流产的危险。

10 vaccine   

n.牛痘苗，疫苗；adj.牛痘的，疫苗的

参考例句：

• The polio vaccine has saved millions of lives.脊髓灰质炎疫苗挽救了数以百万计的生命。
• She takes a vaccine against influenza every fall.她每年秋季接种流感疫苗。