VOA标准英语2010年-WHO Has New Advice to Prevent Mother-t

HIV positive mothers can receive antiretroviral drugs to protect against transmitting the virus to their children

Although it is preventable, each year some 400,000 infants acquire HIV from their mothers. The World Health Organization, or WHO, has released new recommendations urging all HIV positive women to receive antiretroviral drugs to protect against transmitting the virus during pregnancy¹, delivery or breast-feeding.

Pregnant women who are HIV positive risk passing the virus that causes AIDS to their babies. But with early and effective treatment, experts say that risk is greatly diminished.

First, mothers need to know their HIV status, so they can receive treatment, if necessary, with antiretroviral drugs.

Their babies also need to be tested early. UNAIDS prevention advisor² Karusa Kiragu says that should happen within six weeks of birth.

 

"If a child who has HIV is not put on treatment right away, half of them will be dead by the age of two,” Kiragu said. “So it is very, very important that children born of HIV mothers – even if it's not clear they are positive or negative – it's very clear that they be tested. Once the test is confirmed, it is very important the child is put on treatment right away."

Previously³, HIV positive mothers were advised against breast feeding because they can pass the virus through their breast milk. But the WHO's new guidelines say it is safe for mothers to breast feed as long as they are on HIV medications.

"Yes, they breast feed until six months of age. That is the guideline today because if they don't breast feed, it is a risk that the child dies of other diseases like diarrhea or lung infection," said Ann Akesson, the medical coordinator⁴ for Doctors Without Borders in Malawi.

Mother-to-child HIV transmission has been virtually eliminated in developed countries. But in sub-Saharan Africa, it still remains⁵ a serious problem.

Kiragu says that without intervention⁶, there is a 45 percent chance that a baby there will be infected by its mother. She attributes the high rate, in part, to the lack of adequate health services.

"So say, for example, if women need the ante-natal care, they may not be able to go for ante-natal care,” said Kiragu. “If they need the treatment to prevent infection, they may not know about it; they may not go to get it. If they go to get it, they may not find it. So ultimately the child can become infected," she said.

But with the right precautions, the baby of an HIV positive mother can be born infection free. Dr. Akesson says that in her clinic in Thyolo, one of the most rewarding parts of her work is when she can tell a mother her baby is healthy.

"Because the mothers who have taken the prophylactics⁷, the medication, most of the children are actually not infected and that is really wonderful to give that message to the mother," Akesson added.

The experts say protecting mothers and children from HIV is a family affair. It requires everyone knowing his or her HIV status, following safe sex practices and getting early and effective treatment.`
 

1 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。

2 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。

3 previously   

adv.以前，先前（地）

参考例句：

• The bicycle tyre blew out at a previously damaged point.自行车胎在以前损坏过的地方又爆开了。
• Let me digress for a moment and explain what had happened previously.让我岔开一会儿，解释原先发生了什么。

4 coordinator   

n.协调人

参考例句：

• The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, headed by the Emergency Relief Coordinator, coordinates all UN emergency relief. 联合国人道主义事务协调厅在紧急救济协调员领导下，负责协调联合国的所有紧急救济工作。
• How am I supposed to find the client-relations coordinator? 我怎么才能找到客户关系协调员的办公室？

5 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

6 intervention   

n.介入，干涉，干预

参考例句：

• The government's intervention in this dispute will not help.政府对这场争论的干预不会起作用。
• Many people felt he would be hostile to the idea of foreign intervention.许多人觉得他会反对外来干预。

7 prophylactics   

n.预防剂( prophylactic的名词复数 )；预防用品；预防法；避孕用品

参考例句：

• The prospect of teachers passing out prophylactics to their pupils has infuriated some parents. 想到老师将分发避孕套给学生使一些家长愤慨不已。 来自柯林斯例句