2007年VOA标准英语-Iodine Deficiency Causing Health Problems in Gu

By Kari Barber
Dakar
06 July 2007

After years of turmoil¹ and economic hardship, the small West African nation of Guinea Bissau is facing a health challenge caused by the absence of iodine² in the nation's diet. In countries where iodine is not already present in commonly eaten foods, it is typically added to salt. However, health workers say Guinea Bissau's clinics see many children with swollen³ necks and others suffering from conditions related to a deficiency of the essential element. Kari Barber reports from Dakar with additional reporting by Alpha Jallow in Guinea Bissau's capital.

At a small clinic in Bissau, health worker Alimatou Emballo mixes a medicine to treat a baby suffering from an enlarged thyroid gland⁴, located at the neck.

Emballo says she sees a lot of children come in with painfully swollen necks and mothers who are unable to breastfeed because of fatigue⁵ related to iodine deficiency.

Wade6 brought her baby to the clinic to be treated for iodine deficiency, Guinea Bissau" hspace="2" src="/upimg/allimg/070709/1403560.jpg" width="210" vspace="2" border="0" />

Mariama Wade brought her baby to the clinic to be treated for iodine deficiency

She says she treats them with a mixture of modern and traditional medicines and local cereals.

She says the combination works.

According to a United Nations report, 17 percent of the population of Guinea Bissau suffers from an enlarged thyroid gland, or goiter, because of iodine deficiency. Some doctors in the former Portuguese⁷ colony say that number may be higher.

Other common health problems related to iodine deficiency include fatigue, depression, dwarfism, cretinism and brain damage in infants.

Guinea Bissau, like many poor nations, suffers from a high rate of iodine deficiency because most people do not buy treated salt. Many in Guinea Bissau get their salt by evaporating salt water.

Iodine can be found in certain types of seafood⁸ and in plants grown on iodine-rich soil. But without iodized salt, many people develop deficiencies.

Mariama Wade brought her baby to the clinic to be treated for a stomach ache and a swollen neck.

Wade says she is relieved that her baby has been treated and is feeling better.

Public health officials say putting iodine in salt is one of the cheapest and most effective ways a country can improve its overall health. It costs just over $1 to treat one ton of salt.

However, doctors in the country say it is not the cost that is preventing those in Guinea Bissau from adding iodine to their salt, it is breaking old habits that is proving to be a challenge.

1 turmoil   

n.骚乱，混乱，动乱

参考例句：

• His mind was in such a turmoil that he couldn't get to sleep.内心的纷扰使他无法入睡。
• The robbery put the village in a turmoil.抢劫使全村陷入混乱。

2 iodine   

n.碘，碘酒

参考例句：

• The doctor painted iodine on the cut.医生在伤口上涂点碘酒。
• Iodine tends to localize in the thyroid.碘容易集于甲状腺。

3 swollen   

adj.肿大的，水涨的；v.使变大，肿胀

参考例句：

• Her legs had got swollen from standing up all day.因为整天站着，她的双腿已经肿了。
• A mosquito had bitten her and her arm had swollen up.蚊子叮了她，她的手臂肿起来了。

4 gland   

n.腺体，(机)密封压盖，填料盖

参考例句：

• This is a snake's poison gland.这就是蛇的毒腺。
• Her mother has an underactive adrenal gland.她的母亲肾上腺机能不全。

5 fatigue   

n.疲劳，劳累

参考例句：

• The old lady can't bear the fatigue of a long journey.这位老妇人不能忍受长途旅行的疲劳。
• I have got over my weakness and fatigue.我已从虚弱和疲劳中恢复过来了。

6 wade   

v.跋涉，涉水；n.跋涉

参考例句：

• We had to wade through the river to the opposite bank.我们只好涉水过河到对岸。
• We cannot but wade across the river.我们只好趟水过去。

7 Portuguese   

n.葡萄牙人；葡萄牙语

参考例句：

• They styled their house in the Portuguese manner.他们仿照葡萄牙的风格设计自己的房子。
• Her family is Portuguese in origin.她的家族是葡萄牙血统。

8 seafood   

n.海产食品，海味，海鲜

参考例句：

• There's an excellent seafood restaurant near here.离这儿不远有家非常不错的海鲜馆。
• Shrimps are a popular type of seafood.小虾是比较普遍的一种海味。