每年的四月七日，我们都要纪念世界卫生日，庆祝世卫组织在1948年成立。今年的 庆祝世界卫生日，纪念1948年成立世界卫生组织的周年。今年的主题是“良好的健康，延年益寿”，这一主题提供了一个重要的信息:在一生中提倡身体健康，能够提升人到晚年时保持健康和工作能力的机率。

In the middle of the last century, there were just 14 million people in the world aged 80 years or older. By 2050, there will be almost 400 million people in this age group, 100 million of them in China alone. Soon, for the first time in history, the world will have more adults aged 65 or older than children under five. This enormous shift in the age of the world's population is closely linked to economic and social development. But more older people also means increased demands on health care and social security systems.

上世纪中页，全世界80岁以及以上的人口只有一千四百万，到2050年，这一年龄段的人口将达4亿，中国就有一亿人。不久的将来，世界上六十五岁以上的人数将超过5岁以下的人口数量。这一世界人口年龄结构的巨变与经济和社会发展紧密相关。但老龄人口增多就意味着对健康保健和社会保障的需求增长。

The greatest health threat for older people in all countries is now overwhelmingly from noncommunicable diseases. Heart disease and stroke are the biggest killers. But what is the biggest cause? This year’s World Health Day sounds the alarm of a silent global killer, high blood pressure.  

目前对世界各国老年人最大的威胁主要来自非传染性疾病。心脏病和中风是最大的杀手。但最大的诱因是什么？今天国际健康日向全球最大无声杀手高血压发出警告。

One in three adults worldwide has this condition. It is a major cause to death in rich and poor countries alike. High blood pressure, a main trigger for heart disease, all too often goes undiagnosed because symptoms are rare.  The good news is that when it is detected early enough, relatively simple steps can significantly reduce the risk of heart attacks. That is why the United Nations encourages all adults to have their blood pressure regularly checked at health care facilities.

每三个成年人中就有一个人患有高血压，高血压对富裕和贫困国家都是主要致死原因。高血压是心脏病的主要诱因，常常无法诊断，因为症状很少。好消息是如果早期发现，几个简单的步骤就可以显著减少心脏病的威胁。这也就是联合国鼓励所有万年人在健康保健机构定期检查血压的原因。

Following a healthy lifestyle can add years to all our lives.  The evidence is unequivocal.  Cutting down on the consumption of salt, eating a balanced diet, avoiding excessive drinking of alcohol, getting regular exercise, reducing stress and avoiding tobacco use minimize the risk of developing high blood pressure and further consequences such as strokes or heart attacks. Addressing high blood pressure is a key to tackling heart disease – one of the four most deadly non-communicable diseases.

保持健康的生活方式可以延长人类寿命。这方面的证据是无可辩驳的。减少盐的摄入量，采用平衡膳食，避免过度饮酒，有规律地运动，减轻压力，不吸烟都可以减低高血压的风险，以及由此带来的中风或者心脏病发作的后果。治疗高血压是对抗四大非传染性致命疾病之一，心脏病的关键。

The other three – cancer, chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes – are on the rise everywhere, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, and increasingly among younger people.  The countries that are hit hardest are those that can least afford the social and economic consequences of losing a significant part of their workforce to illness and premature death.  These are the same countries that can least afford to pay for treatment and care.

另外三大致命疾病，癌症，慢性消化道疾病和糖尿病发病率也在各地上升，尤其是在中低收入国家，而且在年轻人当中增长。患病率最高的国家恰好是那些最无法承受很大一部分劳动力患病和早亡的后果的国家。这些国家也最没有支付治疗费用的能力。

I welcome the growing, global momentum to address non-communicable diseases.  At the General Assembly in September 2011, countries committed to taking action.  Since then, the World Health Organization has worked with partners to develop a global action plan to address non-communicable diseases in the years leading up to 2020. Reducing high blood pressure is a critical element in that action plan – and something we can all play a part in. 

我欢迎国际社会日益注重非传染性疾病的防治。各国在2011年9月联大期间承诺采取行动。其后，世界卫生组织与有关伙伴合作，制订了一个2020年前防治非传染性疾病的行动计划。减少高血压患病率是该计划的一个重要内容，我们都可以为此出力。