VOA标准英语2018--加纳和尼泊尔消除沙眼行动

Ghana and Nepal Eliminate Trachoma

Trachoma is a disease of the poor. And it is a misery¹ to endure. It is a painful malady² of the eyes, caused by frequent and repeated eye infections that scar the inside of the eyelids³ so the eyelashes rotate inwards and scratch the eye, damaging it.

The disease is spread by contact with a person that has an active infection, which means that Trachoma frequently spreads among relatives. A person's immune system can defeat a single episode of infection, but in endemic communities, re-acquisition of the bacteria occurs frequently. And eventually, repeated infections will cause blindness. Around the world, some 190 million people in 41 countries are at risk of going blind from Trachoma. 2.2 million people have decreased vision due to the disease. Of these, 1.2 are already blind.

The good news is that Trachoma is preventable through good hygiene⁶ and frequent washing with clean water, and treatable with antibiotics⁷ such as azithromycin or tetracycline.

In late May, USAID Spokesperson Clayton McCleskey announced in a written statement that two countries, Ghana and Nepal, have succeeded in eliminating Trachoma as a public health problem.

This is no mean feat⁵. For a country to be considered trachoma free, more than 95 percent of children between 1 and 9 years old living in previously-endemic district must be free of signs of active trachoma.In each previously-endemic district, fewer than 2 tenths of one percent of people 15 years and older must be free of trachomatous trichiasis, the characteristic inward-turned lashes⁴. And the country's health system must be capable of identifying and managing new cases of trachomatous trichiasis.

The U.S. Government, through USAID, has supported the Government of Ghana's efforts to eliminate trachoma since 2006. This includes technical and financial support for mapping the disease, the delivery of 1.1 million treatments of azithromycin donated by Pfizer, and impact evaluations⁸ in 37 endemic Districts.

USAID's support to the Government of Nepal on Trachoma began in 2009, and included mapping the disease in 31 Districts, delivering more than 2.4 million treatments of azithromycin donated by Pfizer, and conducting impact surveys in 24 Districts.

The United States congratulates Ghana and Nepal on this remarkable⁹ achievement, which will improve the lives of their people.

1 misery   

n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦

参考例句：

• Business depression usually causes misery among the working class.商业不景气常使工薪阶层受苦。
• He has rescued me from the mire of misery.他把我从苦海里救了出来。

2 malady   

n.病，疾病(通常做比喻)

参考例句：

• There is no specific remedy for the malady.没有医治这种病的特效药。
• They are managing to control the malady into a small range.他们设法将疾病控制在小范围之内。

3 eyelids   

n.眼睑( eyelid的名词复数 )；眼睛也不眨一下；不露声色；面不改色

参考例句：

• She was so tired, her eyelids were beginning to droop. 她太疲倦了，眼睑开始往下垂。
• Her eyelids drooped as if she were on the verge of sleep. 她眼睑低垂好像快要睡着的样子。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 lashes   

n.鞭挞( lash的名词复数 )；鞭子；突然猛烈的一击；急速挥动v.鞭打( lash的第三人称单数 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥

参考例句：

• Mother always lashes out food for the children's party. 孩子们聚会时，母亲总是给他们许多吃的。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Never walk behind a horse in case it lashes out. 绝对不要跟在马后面，以防它突然猛踢。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 feat   

n.功绩；武艺，技艺；adj.灵巧的，漂亮的，合适的

参考例句：

• Man's first landing on the moon was a feat of great daring.人类首次登月是一个勇敢的壮举。
• He received a medal for his heroic feat.他因其英雄业绩而获得一枚勋章。

6 hygiene   

n.健康法，卫生学 （a.hygienic）

参考例句：

• Their course of study includes elementary hygiene and medical theory.他们的课程包括基础卫生学和医疗知识。
• He's going to give us a lecture on public hygiene.他要给我们作关于公共卫生方面的报告。

7 antibiotics   

n.（用作复数）抗生素；（用作单数）抗生物质的研究；抗生素，抗菌素( antibiotic的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• the discovery of antibiotics in the 20th century 20世纪抗生素的发现
• The doctor gave me a prescription for antibiotics. 医生给我开了抗生素。

8 evaluations   

估价( evaluation的名词复数 )； 赋值； 估计价值； [医学]诊断

参考例句：

• In fact, our moral evaluations are merely expressions of our desires. 事实上，我们的道德评价只是我们欲望的表达形式。 来自哲学部分
• Properly speaking, however, these evaluations and insights are not within the concept of official notice. 但准确地讲，这些评估和深远见识并未包括在官方通知概念里。

9 remarkable   

adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的

参考例句：

• She has made remarkable headway in her writing skills.她在写作技巧方面有了长足进步。
• These cars are remarkable for the quietness of their engines.这些汽车因发动机没有噪音而不同凡响。