VOA慢速英语20060510b

HEALTH REPORT - UNICEF Says China Meets Child Nutrition Goal, Urges Other Nations to Do MoreBy Cynthia Kirk

Broadcast: Wednesday, May 10, 2006

I'm Steve Ember with the VOA Special English Health Report.

A new report from the United Nations says the world must do much more to reduce the number of underweight children. It says one in four children under the age of five is seriously underweight. Malnourished children face increased risk of disease¹ and early death.


A malnourished Sudanese child at a treatment center in the Darfur area

Poor nutrition is linked to more than half of all child deaths. Experts say it is a cause in more than five and one-half million deaths each year in children under five years old.

The United Nations Children's Fund², UNICEF, published the report last week. The report measures progress toward³ reaching the first Millennium⁴ Development Goal: reducing extreme poverty and hunger.

In two thousand, world leaders approved a list of eight goals to reach within fifteen years. The aim is to improve the lives of the world's poor.

UNICEF says China has already met the target of a fifty percent reduction⁵ in the number of underweight children. It says China has cut the rate from nineteen percent to eight percent. A growing economy and government efforts to reduce poverty and improve nutrition are given credit⁶.

But UNICEF says at current rates, the goal of cutting malnutrition⁷ in half worldwide will not be met. It says rates of underweight children in developing countries have dropped by just five percentage points since nineteen ninety.

The head of UNICEF, Ann Veneman, says nutrition affects life at every point of development, starting before a child is even born. But she says too many people do not know about its importance, and how serious a problem there is around the world.

UNICEF says about one hundred forty-six million children in developing countries, twenty-seven percent, are underweight. It says the problem is worst in South Asia. Bangladesh, India and Pakistan have half the world's underweight children.

The report says almost one-third of children in southern and eastern Africa are undernourished. The problem is fueled by conflict, food crises⁸ and widespread disease. The report says only one country, Botswana, is making enough progress to reach the goal by two thousand fifteen.

UNICEF says food aid alone is not enough to solve the problem of undernourished children. Still, it says adding nutrients⁹ such as iron, iodine¹⁰ and vitamin A to foods would help protect the lives of millions.

This VOA Special English Health Report was written by Cynthia Kirk. Read and listen to our reports at www.unsv.com. I'm Steve Ember.

1 disease   

n.疾病，弊端

参考例句：

• The doctors are trying to stamp out the disease.医生正在尽力消灭这种疾病。
• He fought against the disease for a long time.他同疾病做了长时间的斗争。

2 fund   

n.基金，资金，存款，财源，贮藏；vt.提供资金，积累

参考例句：

• They decided to set up a fund for this purpose.他们决定为此专立一项基金。
• This fund may not be drawn on without permission.这笔钱非经批准不得动用。

3 toward   

prep.对于，关于，接近，将近，向，朝

参考例句：

• Suddenly I saw a tall figure approaching toward the policeman.突然间我看到一个高大的身影朝警察靠近。
• Upon seeing her,I smiled and ran toward her. 看到她我笑了，并跑了过去。

4 millennium   

n.一千年，千禧年；太平盛世

参考例句：

• The whole world was counting down to the new millennium.全世界都在倒计时迎接新千年的到来。
• We waited as the clock ticked away the last few seconds of the old millennium.我们静候着时钟滴答走过千年的最后几秒钟。

5 reduction   

n.减少，减低，减缩；减少，减低

参考例句：

• Reduction in income tax will be welcomed with open arms.减少所得税将受到热烈欢迎。
• You will have a reduction for cash.付现金可以打折扣。

6 credit   

n.信用，荣誉，贷款，学分；v.归功于，赞颂，信任

参考例句：

• I credit him with a certain amount of sense.我认为他有一定的见识。
• He got the credit,and we did the dirty work.他得荣誉，我们做不讨好的工作。

7 malnutrition   

n.营养不良

参考例句：

• In Africa, there are a lot of children suffering from severe malnutrition.在非洲有大批严重营养不良的孩子。
• It is a classic case of malnutrition. 这是营养不良的典型病例。

8 crises   

n. 危机；危险期

参考例句：

• Economic crises recur periodically. 经济危机周期性地发生。
• Great crises often call forth gifted leaders. 危急存亡之际常能产生天才的领袖。

9 nutrients   

n.（食品或化学品）营养物，营养品( nutrient的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• a lack of essential nutrients 基本营养的缺乏
• Nutrients are absorbed into the bloodstream. 营养素被吸收进血液。 来自《简明英汉词典》

10 iodine   

n.碘，碘酒

参考例句：

• The doctor painted iodine on the cut.医生在伤口上涂点碘酒。
• Iodine tends to localize in the thyroid.碘容易集于甲状腺。