2007年VOA标准英语-Africa And Women Top World Health Agenda

By Lisa Schlein
Geneva
15 May 2007

In an opening address to the 60th World Health Assembly, the decision-making body of the World Health Organization, WHO Director-General Margaret Chan promised to vigorously work to improve health for Africans and for women. In a wide-ranging review of global health issues, Dr. Chan also reaffirmed her commitment to address the threat of an avian flu pandemic. Lisa Schlein reports for VOA from Geneva.

Margaret Chan, Director-General of the World Health Organization, delivers her speech during the second day of the 60th WHO assembly in Geneva, Switzerland, 15 May 2007

World Health Organization Chief Margaret Chan says Africa will not experience economic growth until the burden of infectious disease is reduced. She emphasizes Africa must not become the continent left behind by development.

Last year, the African Union approved the continent's first comprehensive health strategy. Dr. Chan says she will work with Africa's health ministers to implement¹ the strategy.

"The main focus of the strategy is on the urgent need to strengthen health systems," she said. "The ability to deliver essential interventions² to those in need is regarded as the greatest challenge facing health care in Africa. The strategy further emphasizes the need to revitalize the primary health care approach."

Dr. Chan says improving the health of women is critical because of their role in reproduction, as caregivers, and, most importantly, because women are agents of change.

"They can lift households and communities out of poverty," said Dr. Chan.  "But, women will not realize their potential, also as agents of change, unless they are given opportunities. And, most especially, opportunities to improve their economic status."

This is the first time Dr. Chan is addressing the assembly as WHO director general. She was elected in November following the sudden death of her predecessor³, Dr. Lee Jong-wook, who died on the eve of the 59th Assembly.

In a tribute, Dr. Chan recalled Dr. Lee's commitment to fighting a potentially deadly bird flu pandemic. She says she will continue his work.

U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, Mike Leavitt, broadly embraced Dr. Chan's global health agenda. He stressed the need for all nations to pull together to face the global threat of a potentially serious avian flu pandemic.

"In the past few months, the media buzz about the bird flu has died down a little, but the H5N1 strain of avian influenza⁴ has not. It remains⁵ a serious danger that all of us must face together," said Leavitt. 

"We continue to call on countries everywhere to share influenza samples openly and rapidly and without pre-conditions. No nation can go it alone," he added. 

Indonesia stopped sharing virus samples with the World Health Organization fearing drug companies would develop vaccines⁶ that would be too costly⁸ for poor countries. Leavitt says the global community has to work together to make sure there is enough vaccine⁷ for everyone.

1 implement   

n.(pl.)工具，器具；vt.实行，实施，执行

参考例句：

• Don't undertake a project unless you can implement it.不要承担一项计划，除非你能完成这项计划。
• The best implement for digging a garden is a spade.在花园里挖土的最好工具是铁锹。

2 interventions   

n.介入，干涉，干预( intervention的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Economic analysis of government interventions deserves detailed discussion. 政府对经济的干预应该给予充分的论述。 来自辞典例句
• The judge's frequent interventions made a mockery of justice. 法官的屡屡干预是对正义的践踏。 来自互联网

3 predecessor   

n.前辈，前任

参考例句：

• It will share the fate of its predecessor.它将遭受与前者同样的命运。
• The new ambassador is more mature than his predecessor.新大使比他的前任更成熟一些。

4 influenza   

n.流行性感冒，流感

参考例句：

• They took steps to prevent the spread of influenza.他们采取措施
• Influenza is an infectious disease.流感是一种传染病。

5 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

6 vaccines   

疫苗，痘苗( vaccine的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His team are at the forefront of scientific research into vaccines. 他的小组处于疫苗科研的最前沿。
• The vaccines were kept cool in refrigerators. 疫苗放在冰箱中冷藏。

7 vaccine   

n.牛痘苗，疫苗；adj.牛痘的，疫苗的

参考例句：

• The polio vaccine has saved millions of lives.脊髓灰质炎疫苗挽救了数以百万计的生命。
• She takes a vaccine against influenza every fall.她每年秋季接种流感疫苗。

8 costly   

adj.昂贵的，价值高的，豪华的

参考例句：

• It must be very costly to keep up a house like this.维修这么一幢房子一定很昂贵。
• This dictionary is very useful,only it is a bit costly.这本词典很有用，左不过贵了些。