2006年VOA标准英语-UN Says AIDS Progress Made in Sudan

By Noel King
Khartoum
03 December 2006

The United Nations says it is making progress in combating HIV/AIDS in Sudan, but warned that infection rates may be on the rise in the war-torn Darfur region. The United Nations estimates that Sudan has the highest rate of HIV infection in north Africa and the Middle East.

U.N. representatives said on Sunday there is growing awareness¹ about HIV/AIDS in Sudan.

A partial survey taken in 2002 indicates that some 650,000 people are infected with the disease.

In Sudan's primarily Muslim north those infected with HIV complain that they face enormous social stigma² and have a difficult time getting jobs.

What is more, conflicts in various regions throughout Sudan have limited the U.N.'s ability to inform Sudanese about the spread of the disease.

U.N. AIDS country coordinator³ Moussa Bungudu said Saturday that the rate of infection in Darfur may be on the rise.

"We do not know the details of how many people have the disease. But there are suggestions that the number of people who have the disease is increasing," said Bungudu. "When a population is displaced the social economic base is totally affected⁴. There is likely to be a change in behavior. All of us need to pay attention to Darfur."

Statistics on infection rates in Sudan have long remained uncertain.

Much of southern Sudan was rendered inaccessible⁵ during the nation's 21-year civil war, which ended in 2005.

The United Nations has planned a comprehensive survey on infection rates in Sudan for the year 2007.

Bungudu said if the conflict in the western region continues, statistics on HIV/AIDS in Darfur may be equally uncertain.

"If you are going to do a successful survey, you want to have each community represented in that survey," he continued. "Those areas where the fighting is ongoing⁶ are likely not to be involved. It can be very dangerous to access there. Therefore there will not be equal representation in the selection process. The bottom line is the disease is in Darfur."

At present, the HIV infection rate in the nation of 41 million people is estimated to be about 1.6 percent.

1 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。

2 stigma   

n.耻辱，污名；(花的)柱头

参考例句：

• Being an unmarried mother used to carry a social stigma.做未婚母亲在社会上曾是不光彩的事。
• The stigma of losing weighed heavily on the team.失败的耻辱让整个队伍压力沉重。

3 coordinator   

n.协调人

参考例句：

• The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, headed by the Emergency Relief Coordinator, coordinates all UN emergency relief. 联合国人道主义事务协调厅在紧急救济协调员领导下，负责协调联合国的所有紧急救济工作。
• How am I supposed to find the client-relations coordinator? 我怎么才能找到客户关系协调员的办公室？

4 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。

5 inaccessible   

adj.达不到的，难接近的

参考例句：

• This novel seems to me among the most inaccessible.这本书对我来说是最难懂的小说之一。
• The top of Mount Everest is the most inaccessible place in the world.珠穆朗玛峰是世界上最难到达的地方。

6 ongoing   

adj.进行中的，前进的

参考例句：

• The problem is ongoing.这个问题尚未解决。
• The issues raised in the report relate directly to Age Concern's ongoing work in this area.报告中提出的问题与“关心老人”组织在这方面正在做的工作有直接的关系。