VOA标准英语2013--南非少女艾滋病病毒感染率高

 

HIV Prevalence High Among South African Teen Girls 南非少女艾滋病病毒感染率高

JOHANNESBURG — The latest research shows that efforts to reduce new HIV infections among South African teens is working.  But the bad news is that girls between the  ages of 15 to 24 are three times more likely than boys to contract the virus.

The South African government said more people are getting tested for HIV, thanks in part to a governent campaign that urges  "Get wise, get tested, get  circumcised."President Jacob Zuma himself led the call in 2010 when he was publicly tested for HIV and revealed negative results.  United Nations figures show that  South Africa still has more than 6 million people living with HIV, but there is good news on new infections among teenagers.

The Human Science Research Council of South Africa said HIV prevalence in youth between 15 to 24 years of age has dropped - from just over 10 (10.3) in 2005 to just  over about 7 (7.3) percent in 2012.

Scott Burnett is senior executive manager at LoveLife, an organization working for world without HIV.  He said these positive numbers are the result of vigorous  awareness¹ campaigns over the past few years.

“Sex is far most spoken about, condoms are generally available, and people are beginning to realize that open, honest and early discussion about sex and sexuality don ’t predispose young people to all the risk, they actually help them to avoid risk,” said Burnett.

But girls are more at risk than boys.  UNICEF figures show HIV prevalence in girls is 13.6 percent compared to 4.5 percent for boys.  The question is why.

Matebogo Mampani, a training specialist at SoulCity, said the lack of relevant HIV awareness messages targeted to young girls is the problem.

“Sometimes you find that in the schools people wanna say abstain² [from sex] -  abstain when basically there are children in the same school who are pregnant, there  are condoms that are used lying around in the schools,” she said.

Portia Munguambe, 19, a Lovelife peer educator, said there are other pressures - like poor girls getting lured³ by older men with gifts and cash and even food in  exchange for sex.

“Basically we have the issue of sugar mammies and sugar daddies.  You know, as teens we wanna fit into the lifestyle of having fancy things, for example having my  hair done, having those heels [high heel shoes],” she explained.

Portia said building self-esteem and confidence in young girls is part of the solution.  She also has some straight talk for her peers. “Be safe, condomize and do  everything with your powers to protect yourself,” she stated.

Portia said unless enough teenagers are trained to communicate such messages to kids their own age, it will be a long time before the rate of HIV prevalence among  young girls comes down. 

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 abstain   

v.自制，戒绝，弃权，避免

参考例句：

• His doctor ordered him to abstain from beer and wine.他的医生嘱咐他戒酒。
• Three Conservative MPs abstained in the vote.三位保守党下院议员投了弃权票。

3 lured   

吸引，引诱（lure的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• The child was lured into a car but managed to escape. 那小孩被诱骗上了车，但又设法逃掉了。
• Lured by the lust of gold,the pioneers pushed onward. 开拓者在黄金的诱惑下，继续奋力向前。