VOA标准英语2014--西非希望在12月份控制埃博拉病毒

 

West Africa Hopes to Contain Ebola by December 西非希望在12月份控制埃博拉病毒

WASHINGTON— 

West African leaders hope to contain the spread the Ebola virus by December of this year, but say it can only be done with robust¹ international help.  Countries most hit by the deadly virus, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea, are appealing to their diaspora abroad to join the effort.  A U.S.- African forum² in Washington discussed the immediate³ needs of these countries and what African groups in the United States can do to help.

Delegates from the meeting at the African Union Mission in Washington Friday stressed that Ebola is a global problem and that every nation has a role in helping⁴ bring it to an end.

Sierra Leone Ambassador to the United States Bockari Stevens said Western countries have pledged to send medical experts and material support to fight the disease in West Africa, but it has taken some time to arrive.

"And the British promised to build a 700-bed hospital - that has not been done yet, but they have started construction," said Stevens. "The Cubans went yesterday - 165 Cubans landed - doctors - Cuban doctors landed in Sierra Leone.  With all of these effort now being marshaled together, we should be able to see some light at the end of the tunnel."

Ambassador Stevens said efforts in his country have not stopped Ebola's destructive path. He said 18 more people died from the virus on the streets of Freetown on Thursday. But he said the Sierra Leonean diaspora has been helpful.

"In fact, we have diaspora, as well, volunteering, especially diasporas in the medical field: nurses, paramedics, doctors," he said.  "Some of them are in Freetown Sierra Leone now, helping with the training and motivating of our local health workers."

The ambassador called Ebola the world biggest terrorist, but said with enough international support it could be defeated.

A delegate from Zimbabwe, Emmanual Nnadozie, urged a vigorous response by the international community to Ebola and other problems in West Africa.

"Because after Ebola there will be a need to deal with the consequences of Ebola, there will be need also to build strong institutions to prevent such a crisis from happening again," he said.

Representatives of the most affected⁵ West African countries stressed the importance of solidarity⁶ in the fight against Ebola.

Chinua Akukwe, chairman of the National Academy of Public Administration in Washington, said the spread of Ebola outside Africa shows that the world cannot ignore the problem.

"In the [U.S.] Congress I have called for a new public-private partnership⁷ to deal with Ebola with the immediate and long-term goal of rebuilding health systems in Africa," said Akukwe.

Participants at the forum said that containing Ebola is only the first step in helping Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea recover from the disease.  The three countries will also need help to put education, agriculture, business and industrial sector⁸ back on track after suffering losses in the current outbreak.  Their ability to prevent another health disaster in the future may depend on how well they rebuild after this one.  

1 robust   

adj.强壮的，强健的，粗野的，需要体力的，浓的

参考例句：

• She is too tall and robust.她个子太高，身体太壮。
• China wants to keep growth robust to reduce poverty and avoid job losses,AP commented.美联社评论道，中国希望保持经济强势增长，以减少贫困和失业状况。

2 forum   

n.论坛，讨论会

参考例句：

• They're holding a forum on new ways of teaching history.他们正在举行历史教学讨论会。
• The organisation would provide a forum where problems could be discussed.这个组织将提供一个可以讨论问题的平台。

3 immediate   

adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的

参考例句：

• His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
• We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。

4 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

5 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。

6 solidarity   

n.团结；休戚相关

参考例句：

• They must preserve their solidarity.他们必须维护他们的团结。
• The solidarity among China's various nationalities is as firm as a rock.中国各族人民之间的团结坚如磐石。

7 partnership   

n.合作关系，伙伴关系

参考例句：

• The company has gone into partnership with Swiss Bank Corporation.这家公司已经和瑞士银行公司建立合作关系。
• Martin has taken him into general partnership in his company.马丁已让他成为公司的普通合伙人。

8 sector   

n.部门，部分；防御地段，防区；扇形

参考例句：

• The export sector will aid the economic recovery. 出口产业将促进经济复苏。
• The enemy have attacked the British sector.敌人已进攻英国防区。