VOA健康报道2022--联合国发出1.64亿美元援助请求助海地应对霍乱

UN Seeks $146 Million to Help Haiti Fight Cholera¹ Crisis

The United Nations and Haiti are seeking $146 million to help fight a cholera outbreak that has already killed at least 175 people.

Health officials in Haiti say cholera cases have quickly been rising since life started returning to normal after a fuel blockade halted many forms of business and services.

The blockade forced gas stations to close, hospitals to reduce services and banks and stores to limit hours. The blockade was established in mid-September by a powerful Haitian gang. The gang recently lifted the blockade and gas stations reopened last weekend across Haiti.

Dr. Jeanty Fils is a spokesman for Haiti's Ministry² of Health. He told The Associated Press that people are back on the streets and likely spreading cholera as the government struggles to contain the problem.

"We need more resources," Fils said. "Cholera cases continue to climb in Haiti."

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) estimates at least 175 people have died from the latest Cholera outbreak and more than 7,600 have been hospitalized. The actual number of cases is likely much higher because of under-reporting of the disease.

The worsening situation in Haiti led the government, the U.N. and other partners to appeal for $146 million to help fight cholera. Health officials fear that at least half a million people in Haiti are at risk of becoming infected.

Ulrika Richardson is a Special U.N. Representative in Haiti. She called the rising case count and fast spread of the disease across the country "worrying."

Fils noted³ that cholera cases were likely contained during the fuel blockade since gas stations were closed and many in the country of more than 11 million people remained home.

Stephanie Mayronne is a medical operations official for Doctors Without Borders. She said if people sickened with cholera start traveling to areas with poor sanitation⁴ and a lack of drinking water, the number of cases will likely keep rising. "It's a match that can light a fire," Mayronne added.

The number of patients seeking help at Doctors Without Borders hospitals in the capital of Port-au-Prince greatly increased in recent weeks. So far, more than 6,500 patients have been admitted. Beds filled up so quickly that the aid group was forced to open a fifth center two weeks ago, said Doctors Without Borders official Alexandre Marcou.

The PAHO told the AP it is supporting Haiti's government in preparing a request for cholera vaccines⁶ and planning to launch vaccination⁷ campaigns. But health experts say it remains⁸ unclear when those efforts will begin.

In October, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced a worldwide cholera vaccine⁵ shortage that forced it to suspend its usual two-dose administration policy. Mayronne of Doctors Without Borders noted that a single dose can lower one's risk by only 40 percent.

The world health body said the shortage happened "at a time of unprecedented⁹ rise in cholera outbreaks worldwide." At least 29 countries have reported cholera cases this year, compared with fewer than 20 on average for the past five years, the WHO said.

Words in This Story

sanitation – n. a system for protecting people's health by removing dirt and waste

match – n. a thin, wooden stick that produces a flame when it is rubbed against a rough surface

dose – n. a measured amount of medicine taken at one time

unprecedented – adj. never having happened before

1 cholera   

n.霍乱

参考例句：

• The cholera outbreak has been contained.霍乱的发生已被控制住了。
• Cholera spread like wildfire through the camps.霍乱在营地里迅速传播。

2 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

3 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

4 sanitation   

n.公共卫生，环境卫生，卫生设备

参考例句：

• The location is exceptionally poor,viewed from the sanitation point.从卫生角度来看，这个地段非常糟糕。
• Many illnesses are the result,f inadequate sanitation.许多疾病都来源于不健全的卫生设施。

5 vaccine   

n.牛痘苗，疫苗；adj.牛痘的，疫苗的

参考例句：

• The polio vaccine has saved millions of lives.脊髓灰质炎疫苗挽救了数以百万计的生命。
• She takes a vaccine against influenza every fall.她每年秋季接种流感疫苗。

6 vaccines   

疫苗，痘苗( vaccine的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His team are at the forefront of scientific research into vaccines. 他的小组处于疫苗科研的最前沿。
• The vaccines were kept cool in refrigerators. 疫苗放在冰箱中冷藏。

7 vaccination   

n.接种疫苗，种痘

参考例句：

• Vaccination is a preventive against smallpox.种痘是预防天花的方法。
• Doctors suggest getting a tetanus vaccination every ten years.医生建议每十年注射一次破伤风疫苗。

8 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

9 unprecedented   

adj.无前例的，新奇的

参考例句：

• The air crash caused an unprecedented number of deaths.这次空难的死亡人数是空前的。
• A flood of this sort is really unprecedented.这样大的洪水真是十年九不遇。