2006年VOA标准英语-Shortage of Health Workers Reaching Crisis

By Rowan Reid
Johannesburg
07 April 2006

World Health Day celebrations in Luzaka, Zambia  
  
The World Health Organization says a shortage in trained health workers is reaching a crisis point worldwide and many countries will not be able to control a major disease emergency like an outbreak of avian flu. The WHO report says a further four million health workers are required in 57 countries, 35 of which are in sub-Saharan Africa. The WHO says without a major increase in the training of health workers, mortality rates from disease are likely to increase.

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In its annual World Health Report, the World Health Organization this year has focused on the need for greater investment in the health workforce¹ which it says is drastically under resourced.

The WHO says there is a direct correlation² between the number of health workers and maternal³ and infant survival rates during pregnancy⁴. The report also says the density⁵ of health workers is one of the key factors in reducing the spread and effects of infectious disease.

The WHO's Assistant Director-General of Evidence and Information for Policy, Doctor Tim Evans, says this is particularly critical in the control of HIV/AIDs.

"A shortage of human resources has replaced financial issues as the most serious obstacle to implementing⁶ national HIV treatment plans," he said.

The report says some the biggest problems are occurring in 36 African countries where the number of health workers per capita are the lowest anywhere in the world. It says this is due to migration⁷ of health workers to better paying jobs in developed countries and limited access to training facilities.

And, Dr. Evans says in sub-Saharan Africa the shortage of health workers is compounded by much a much higher disease rate.

"Africa has about 25 percent of the global burden of disease and only three percent of the workforce and less than one percent of the health expenditure⁸, so Africa is way out on its own," he said.

And the report says the situation is becoming more critical as the population in developed countries ages and continues to increase in the developing world.

Dr. Evans says, without a major increase in the training of health workers, death rates during pregnancy and from disease will not improve and some areas of the health system are likely to get worse.

"If the workforce conditions deteriorate⁹, as they may without very significant action, then it is conceivable that the current levels of health, for example infant health, may deteriorate," he said.

The WHO is recommending a 33 percent increase in the spending on health care in the critical countries over the next 10 years, half of which should be spent on training more than four million new health workers.

The report says this cost should be met equally by the worst affected¹⁰ countries and the international community.

1 workforce   

n.劳动大军，劳动力

参考例句：

• A large part of the workforce is employed in agriculture.劳动人口中一大部分受雇于农业。
• A quarter of the local workforce is unemployed.本地劳动力中有四分之一失业。

2 correlation   

n.相互关系，相关，关连

参考例句：

• The second group of measurements had a high correlation with the first.第二组测量数据与第一组高度相关。
• A high correlation exists in America between education and economic position.教育和经济地位在美国有极密切的关系。

3 maternal   

adj.母亲的，母亲般的，母系的，母方的

参考例句：

• He is my maternal uncle.他是我舅舅。
• The sight of the hopeless little boy aroused her maternal instincts.那个绝望的小男孩的模样唤起了她的母性。

4 pregnancy   

n.怀孕，怀孕期

参考例句：

• Early pregnancy is often accompanied by nausea.怀孕早期常有恶心的现象。
• Smoking during pregnancy increases the risk of miscarriage.怀孕期吸烟会增加流产的危险。

5 density   

n.密集，密度，浓度

参考例句：

• The population density of that country is 685 per square mile.那个国家的人口密度为每平方英里685人。
• The region has a very high population density.该地区的人口密度很高。

6 implementing   

v.实现( implement的现在分词 )；执行；贯彻；使生效

参考例句：

• -- Implementing a comprehensive drug control strategy. ――实行综合治理的禁毒战略。 来自汉英非文学 - 白皮书
• He was in no hurry about implementing his unshakable principle. 他并不急于实行他那不可动摇的原则。 来自辞典例句

7 migration   

n.迁移，移居，（鸟类等的）迁徙

参考例句：

• Swallows begin their migration south in autumn.燕子在秋季开始向南方迁移。
• He described the vernal migration of birds in detail.他详细地描述了鸟的春季移居。

8 expenditure   

n.(时间、劳力、金钱等)支出；使用，消耗

参考例句：

• The entry of all expenditure is necessary.有必要把一切开支入账。
• The monthly expenditure of our family is four hundred dollars altogether.我们一家的开销每月共计四百元。

9 deteriorate   

v.变坏；恶化；退化

参考例句：

• Do you think relations between China and Japan will continue to deteriorate?你认为中日关系会继续恶化吗？
• He held that this would only cause the situation to deteriorate further.他认为，这只会使局势更加恶化。

10 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。