2007年VOA标准英语-Senegalese Drug Abusers Emerge as High Risk HIV

By Phuong Tran
Dakar
12 February 2007

Africa's porous¹ borders and location have made it an attractive destination for drug traffickers. Health and government officials worry how this trend affects the growing rate of HIV infection on the continent. In Senegal, drug users² have emerged³ as one of the highest risk groups for HIV infection. In this first part of a five-part series on the most vulnerable⁴ groups to HIV infection in Africa, Phuong Tran reports from Dakar.

 
Moussa Sanganra
When he was 15 years old, Moussa Sanganra lived with his uncle, a fisherman. Sanganra remembers how his uncle frequently used drugs, which he kept in his bedroom.

Sanganra -- now 25 -- says he started using drugs because he was always around them. At the time, he says he did not know he was at risk for HIV from sharing old and possibly infected needles.

It was only much later, after he had left the hospital for drug-induced hallucinations, when he learned⁵ of the link between drug use and HIV infection.

He still has not taken an HIV test, although he says he is curious.

 
Cheikh Diop
Chiekh Diop, president of the Association⁶ of Non-Profits Against Drugs, says there are many HIV positive cases among drug users. But, officials do not know the numbers infected.

And because the community is still being identified, Diop says HIV prevention services are still lacking.

"HIV prevention was not a priority⁷ in the beginning," he said. "It was only when we started seeing more HIV positive cases, about three years ago, that we made the connection."

Diop says some health officials and research groups are planning studies of drug users in Senegal. With these results, Diop says the government can explore new prevention programs other countries have long used, including giving drug users new needles to prevent spreading the virus through old, infected needles.

But he says Senegal still has a long way to go.

1 porous   

adj.可渗透的，多孔的

参考例句：

• He added sand to the soil to make it more porous.他往土里掺沙子以提高渗水性能。
• The shell has to be slightly porous to enable oxygen to pass in.外壳不得不有些细小的孔以便能使氧气通过。

2 users   

用户，使用者( user的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The new software will prove a boon to Internet users. 这种新软件将会对互联网用户大有益处。
• Ramps should be provided for wheelchair users. 应该给轮椅使用者提供坡道。

3 emerged   

vi. 浮现, (由某种状态)脱出, (事实)显现出来

参考例句：

• They emerged from the church into the bright daylight. 他们走出教堂来到明亮的日光下。
• The swimmer emerged from the lake. 游泳者从湖水中浮出来。

4 vulnerable   

adj.易受伤的，脆弱的，易受攻击的

参考例句：

• He volunteered to protect her as she looked so vulnerable.她看上去很脆弱，他就主动去保护她。
• The company is in an economically vulnerable position.该公司目前经济状况不稳定。

5 learned   

adj.有学问的，博学的；learn的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He went into a rage when he learned about it.他听到这事后勃然大怒。
• In this little village,he passed for a learned man.在这个小村子里，他被视为有学问的人。

6 association   

n.联盟，协会，社团；交往，联合；联想

参考例句：

• Our long association with your company has brought great benefits.我方和贵公司的长期合作带来了巨大的利益。
• I broke away from the association ten years ago.我10年前就脱离了那个团体。

7 priority   

n.优先处理的事，居先，优先（权）

参考例句：

• The development of the national economy is a top priority.发展国民经济是应予以最优先考虑的事。
• Things should be taken up in order of priority.办事应有个先后次序。