DEVELOPMENT REPORT - Experts Say Simple Measures Could Save

DEVELOPMENT REPORT - Experts Say Simple Measures Could Save 3 Million Babies Yearly
By Jill Moss¹

Broadcast: Monday, March 21, 2005

I'm Gwen Outen with the VOA Special English Development Report. Each year, four million babies die within their first month of life. That is more than ten thousand deaths each day, or seven each minute. Yet simple measures could prevent seventy-five percent of these deaths.

These are the findings in a series of four reports written by health experts from around the world. The Lancet medical magazine published the reports this month on its Web site.

The first paper reports on the major direct causes of deaths in newborn babies. These are infections, early birth and the loss of oxygen during pregnancy². Southern Africa has the highest death rates, but south and central Asia have the largest number of deaths.

Researchers say two out of three of the deaths happen in ten countries. These include Afghanistan, Bangladesh, China, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Ethiopia. The others are India, Indonesia, Nigeria, Pakistan and Tanzania. The report says more than half of women in these areas give birth at home with no help from trained health care workers.

The second report proposes sixteen simple methods that could help prevent most deaths in newborn babies. These include injections against tetanus for pregnant women and clean conditions for births. Others are antibiotic³ medicine to fight infections in newborns and breastfeeding immediately after birth.

The third paper says there is no one solution for poor countries to improve health care for babies. Most developing nations do not have enough skilled health workers. The report calls for major investment to change this. It also suggests special campaigns to prevent tetanus in pregnant women and simple home care of small babies.

The final paper is a call to action to save lives. It says the cost is low, but there has to be political will at national and international levels.

Currently, it says, about two thousand million dollars is spent each year to fight infant deaths. But the seventy-five countries with the highest death rates need an estimated four thousand million dollars more.

The four reports are the second part in a child survival campaign by The Lancet. The first, in July of two thousand three, examined deaths in children under age five.

There is no cost to read the reports online, but users must register at the site. The address is thelancet.com.

This VOA Special English Development Report was written by Jill Moss. I'm Gwen Outen.

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 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。

3 antibiotic   

adj.抗菌的；n.抗生素

参考例句：

• The doctor said that I should take some antibiotic.医生说我应该服些用抗生素。
• Antibiotic can be used against infection.抗菌素可以用来防止感染。