VOA标准英语2014--非洲媒体尝试教育公众埃博拉病毒知识

 

African Media Tries to Educate Public About Ebola 非洲媒体尝试教育公众埃博拉病毒知识

While the Ebola epidemic¹ continues to claim lives in West Africa, information technology specialists, together with radio and TV reporters, are battling misinformation and prejudice about the disease - using social media to educate the public about the deadly virus. 

The World Health Organization says the current Ebola outbreak is the worst in history and will probably continue to spread for months through Western and Central Africa.

Most of the cases have occurred in remote villages, where people rely mostly on radio and television for the news.

In Ghana’s capital Accra, an announcer for the Citi 97.3 FM station reads the daily bulletin², “The deadly Ebola virus resurfaced in West Africa in February this year. Since then it has claimed more than 700 lives."

The station’s online manager, Mawuli Tsikata, says the government’s campaign to raise awareness³ about HIV/AIDS was much more aggressive than education about Ebola.

“In the case of Ebola you don't see anything; you just depend on what the journalists report to the public so I don't think the government is doing enough to educate the public about Ebola," Tsikata said.

The epidemic has also reached large cities, where a more affluent⁴ population has access to computers, the Internet and social media.

Blogger Japhet Omojuwa, based in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, says social media users are often some of the most influential⁵ people in the society, so reaching them can help spread the word about the danger of Ebola.

“They have access to those that are not on social media, so if they are interested, if they are made to know and understand the dangers and the risks of us not stopping Ebola from being a Nigerian issue, then they will likely get to reach their parents, their sisters, their cousins their relatives," said Omojuwa.

Social media activism against the Ebola outbreak is not confined to individual bloggers. The Nigerian group Hexavia Logistics hopes its tweets are reaching many, not only in Nigeria but other African countries as well.

General Manager Babajide Fadoju says it is unfortunate that it took an epidemic for the African public to start talking about Ebola.

“So the most important aspect of all things that we do is actually talking about it, hence talking about Ebola is one of the best things that has actually happened with the Ebola virus," said Fadoju.

The World Health Organization says it will work with affected⁶ countries and their neighbors, renewing efforts to improve communication and teach people how to avoid infection and where to seek help.  African bloggers and tweeters are already doing their part.

1 epidemic   

n.流行病；盛行；adj.流行性的，流传极广的

参考例句：

• That kind of epidemic disease has long been stamped out.那种传染病早已绝迹。
• The authorities tried to localise the epidemic.当局试图把流行病限制在局部范围。

2 bulletin   

n.小报，会刊，简明新闻，新闻快报

参考例句：

• We read the declaration posted on the bulletin board.我们读了贴在布告板上的声明。
• The radio bulletin warned of the typhoon.收音机新闻快报发布了台风警报。

3 awareness   

n.意识，觉悟，懂事，明智

参考例句：

• There is a general awareness that smoking is harmful.人们普遍认识到吸烟有害健康。
• Environmental awareness has increased over the years.这些年来人们的环境意识增强了。

4 affluent   

adj.富裕的，富有的，丰富的，富饶的

参考例句：

• He hails from an affluent background.他出身于一个富有的家庭。
• His parents were very affluent.他的父母很富裕。

5 influential   

adj.有影响的，有权势的

参考例句：

• He always tries to get in with the most influential people.他总是试图巴结最有影响的人物。
• He is a very influential man in the government.他在政府中是个很有影响的人物。

6 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。