VOA常速英语2013--医生在缅甸开展大规模外科手术希望患者重见光明（在线收听）

Doctors Carry Out Mass Surgeries in Burma to Reverse Blindness 医生在缅甸开展大规模外科手术希望患者重见光明

RANGOON, BURMA — Burma has one of the highest rates of blindness in the world, afflicting an estimated 8.1 percent of the population in rural areas. More than half of the cases are due to cataracts, which cloud the eye lens over time. Now, a team of Nepalese cataract experts have been allowed into the country to perform more than a 1,000 free operations in what is hoped to be the first of many such ventures.

Here at the Yangon Eye Hospital, an amazing transformation has recently occurred.

最近仰光的眼科医院发生了惊人的变化。

In a matter of weeks, a joint medical team from Nepal and Burma will have completed more than 1200 free cataract operations-a treatable eye disease that leads to impaired vision-and sometimes blindness.

在几周的时间里, 来自尼泊尔和缅甸的联合医疗团队将实施超过1200起免费白内障治疗手术，这是一种导致视力下降,有时会引发失明的眼科疾病。

The numbers are daunting, but for the hospital director, Dr.Tin Win, a big part of the problem is lack of knowledge.

这个数字很庞大,但对于医院的主任堤恩·维恩博士而言问题的重中之重在于患者知识的匮乏。

“The tradition in Myanmar is they are very apprehensive to undergo surgery so they don't want to be operated.

“缅甸的传统是他们非常担心接受手术,所以不想做手术。

They are afraid. They accept a cataract as an aging process.

他们对此感到害怕。他们接受白内障的衰老过程。

It's true. It's an aging process but this process can be overcome by surgery,” said Tin Win.

千真万确。这是一个衰老的过程,但可以由手术克服,” 堤恩·维恩说道。

The massive endeavor is being led by Nepalese Dr. Sanduk Ruit, who helped develop the low-cost, high-volume, surgical technique that replaces the eye lens.

尼泊尔人桑德克·里特博士领衔做出了巨大努力,他曾帮助开发低成本、高产量, 取代接目镜的手术技术。

Dr. Ruit's team from the Tilganga Eye Centre has carried out operations in locations such as North Korea, Ethiopia and Indonesia.

而来自蒂加纳眼科中心里特医生的团队已经在朝鲜、埃塞俄比亚和印度尼西亚等地开展过手术。

Now, the doctor is eager to help spread his expertise and training in a country where basic medical assistance is still too costly for most.

现在,这位医生渴望在基本医疗援助太过昂贵承担不起的国家帮助传播他的专业知识及培训。

“It's very important that we take this service to the community level at different parts of Myanmar and I hope the Ministry of Health will give us non-obstructive passage,” said Ruit.

“我们将这一服务带到在缅甸不同地区的社区水平至关重要而且我希望卫生部会给我们开辟绿色通道,“里特说道。

The surgery can be a life altering moment for many of these patients, who have had difficulty seeing for years.

这一手术对多年来不曾见过光明的病人而言可说是一次生命的转折点。

For Daw Tin Hla, simple tasks like pouring a glass of water and cooking would now, once again, be easier.

对于达沃·提恩·赫拉来说，像是倒一杯水及烹饪等简单的工作现在再次变得容易。

“I am really happy because I have got my sight again.

“我真高兴自己能够重见光明。

They told me to walk slowly but I didn't.

他们告诉我慢慢走,但我则不然。

I am eager to walk very quickly.

我渴望走得很快。

After the operation I feel free.”

术后我感受到了自由。”

While the first group of patients readjusts to their improved vision, the team hopes to train community doctors and paramedics to carry on the work.

随着第一组的患者重新适应提高的视力,这个医疗团队希望培养社区医生及医护人员开展工作。