DEVELOPMENT REPORT - Economics and Health

DEVELOPMENT REPORT
–
January 14, 2002: Economics and Health

By Jill Moss¹

This is the VOA Special English Development Report.

The World Health Organization has released a report about how disease weakens the economies of poor
countries. For years, people believed that good health is a direct result of strong economic development.
However, this study suggests the opposite is true. It says that strong economic development is an important result
of improved health.

An international committee of economists² and experts in public health and policy carried out study. It is based on
almost ninety investigations³ in countries around the world. Some people say the study is the most complete
examination to link investments in health care to economic growth.

The study calls for a large increase in foreign aid for health care services in developing countries. In the world’s
richest countries, total spending for health care for each person is almost two-thousand dollars a year. However,
in the world’s poorest nations, spending on health care for each person is only thirteen dollars a year.

The W-H-O says this amount should be increased to thirty-eight dollars a year for each person by Two-
Thousand -Fifteen. The money would help poor nations provide treatment for diseases. It would also provide
babies with important health care early in life.

Jeffrey Sachs of Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, led the study. He says about eight-million
lives could be saved each year if the richest nations increased spending on health care in developing countries. In
addition, Mister Sachs says more than fifty of the world’s poorest countries would have a chance to improve the

living and economic conditions for their people.

The study links political crises in developing countries to high death rates among newborn babies. The report also
provides new information about how AIDS, tuberculosis⁴ and malaria⁵ affect economic growth in developing
countries. The researchers suggest eight-thousand-million dollars be provided each year to help fight these
diseases.

The W-H-O plans to send the study to many officials around the world. They include heads of state, ministers of
finance, health and trade, members of national parliaments and non-governmental organizations. It says the report
is a valuable guide for future international health programs, policies and financing.

This VOA Special English Development Report was written by Jill Moss.

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1 moss   

n.苔，藓，地衣

参考例句：

• Moss grows on a rock.苔藓生在石头上。
• He was found asleep on a pillow of leaves and moss.有人看见他枕着树叶和苔藓睡着了。

2 economists   

n.经济学家，经济专家( economist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The sudden rise in share prices has confounded economists. 股价的突然上涨使经济学家大惑不解。
• Foreign bankers and economists cautiously welcomed the minister's initiative. 外国银行家和经济学家对部长的倡议反应谨慎。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 investigations   

（正式的）调查( investigation的名词复数 )； 侦查； 科学研究； 学术研究

参考例句：

• His investigations were intensive and thorough but revealed nothing. 他进行了深入彻底的调查，但没有发现什么。
• He often sent them out to make investigations. 他常常派他们出去作调查。

4 tuberculosis   

n.结核病，肺结核

参考例句：

• People used to go to special health spring to recover from tuberculosis.人们常去温泉疗养胜地治疗肺结核。
• Tuberculosis is a curable disease.肺结核是一种可治愈的病。

5 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。