VOA标准英语2010年-AIDS 2010 Calls for Treatment and Prev

As the HIV/AIDS epidemic¹ continues to spread, new research shows it’s taking an increasing toll² on men-having-sex-with men or MSM.  The issue was addressed at the 18th International AIDS conference in Vienna, with calls for greater funding and human rights efforts.

 

Activists³ say men having sex with men have been hit hard by the epidemic, but have not received nearly as much attention or resources as many other groups.  They’re hoping scientific data on the effects of HIV on MSM – released at the conference - will change that.

Shivananda Khan of India is with Naz Foundation International, which provides technical and development assistance to MSM groups in South Asia.  Khan says data from the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health comes none too soon.

Shivananda Khan , Naz Foundation International

“We’ve been waiting a long time for this data.  I’ve been engaged in this area for 20 years and this is the first time I’m hearing this sort of data when from a day-to-day perspective we watch people every day for the last 20 years, getting infected and dying from HIV,” he says.

Who are they?

UNAIDS says the term – Men Having Sex with Men – describes a behavior rather than a group of people.  MSM includes self-identified gay, bisexual, or heterosexual men, many of whom, it says, may not even consider themselves gay or bisexual.

In 2008, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon said, “In countries without laws to protect sex workers, drug users and men who have sex with men, only a fraction of the population has access to prevention.”  He added, “Not only is it unethical not to protect these groups; it makes no sense from a health perspective.  It hurts all of us.”

Khan warns of grave consequences if things don’t change.

He says, “Right now, if you look at the data from Asia and the Pacific, if there is no increase in HIV interventions⁵ for MSM and transgenders, then something like by the year 2020 – which is only 10 years away – 50 percent of all new infections will be MSM or transgenders.”

He says less than four percent of HIV/AIDS funding around the world goes to men having sex with men and transgenders.

“Nine out of ten, nine out of ten MSM and transgenders do not get services.  And right now in Asia, every day there are about 200 people – MSM and transgenders – getting infected because they don’t have services,” he says.

Joel Nana of Cameroon says the answer to the problem is readily available.

“What else are we waiting for?  I think we do have the solution.  The solution is services that target all the populations.”

Joel Nana, African Men for Sexual Health and Rights

Nana is executive director of African Men for Sexual Health and Rights.  He says besides more prevention and treatment services, MSM need what he calls “an enabling environment.”

“An enabling environment has three components⁷.  There is the law component⁶.  There is the law enforcement component and there is the access to justice component.  So if any of these three is not fulfilled, you do not have an enabling environment,” he says.

From the pulpit

Churches around the world often get involved in the debate over gay rights.  Their reaction has ranged from strong support to tolerance⁸ to fierce opposition⁹.

Presbyterian minister Dr. Nyambura Njoroge is program executive of the Ecumenical HIV and AIDS Initiative in Africa of the World Council of Churches.

“Sexuality of men having sex with men is one of the most difficult and contested areas and sometimes religious leaders and followers¹⁰ are known to use violent language in expressing their views.  Violent language only creates fear and victimhood,” he says.

Rev⁴. Nyambura Njoroge, World Council of Churches

She says it’s important for the religious community to “dig deep” into religiosity and spirituality, adding, “For we know very well that human beings have physical, spiritual and sexual needs.”

MSM is a controversial issue that triggers strong emotions.  For example, in Malawi two men were prosecuted¹¹ after they went public with their gay relationship.  In Uganda, legislation imposing¹² harsh penalties for homosexuality is before parliament.  Similar stories can be found around the world.

Rev. Njoroge says the world’s sacred writings all have the same message.

“Human life is sacred.  And all human beings are created in the image of God.  And so, there is no one who is a misfit in the eyes of God.  And I think that is important for all of us who acknowledge,” he says.

MSM and transgender activists hope to play a bigger role at the 19th International AIDS Conference in 2012, when it’s held in the United States.
 

1 epidemic   

n.流行病；盛行；adj.流行性的，流传极广的

参考例句：

• That kind of epidemic disease has long been stamped out.那种传染病早已绝迹。
• The authorities tried to localise the epidemic.当局试图把流行病限制在局部范围。

2 toll   

n.过路(桥)费；损失，伤亡人数；v.敲(钟)

参考例句：

• The hailstone took a heavy toll of the crops in our village last night.昨晚那场冰雹损坏了我们村的庄稼。
• The war took a heavy toll of human life.这次战争夺去了许多人的生命。

3 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 rev   

v.发动机旋转，加快速度

参考例句：

• It's his job to rev up the audience before the show starts.他要负责在表演开始前鼓动观众的热情。
• Don't rev the engine so hard.别让发动机转得太快。

5 interventions   

n.介入，干涉，干预( intervention的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Economic analysis of government interventions deserves detailed discussion. 政府对经济的干预应该给予充分的论述。 来自辞典例句
• The judge's frequent interventions made a mockery of justice. 法官的屡屡干预是对正义的践踏。 来自互联网

6 component   

n.组成部分，成分，元件；adj.组成的，合成的

参考例句：

• Each component is carefully checked before assembly.每个零件在装配前都经过仔细检查。
• Blade and handle are the component parts of a knife.刀身和刀柄是一把刀的组成部分。

7 components   

（机器、设备等的）构成要素，零件，成分； 成分( component的名词复数 )； [物理化学]组分； [数学]分量； （混合物的）组成部分

参考例句：

• the components of a machine 机器部件
• Our chemistry teacher often reduces a compound to its components in lab. 在实验室中化学老师常把化合物分解为各种成分。

8 tolerance   

n.宽容；容忍，忍受；耐药力；公差

参考例句：

• Tolerance is one of his strengths.宽容是他的一个优点。
• Human beings have limited tolerance of noise.人类对噪音的忍耐力有限。

9 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

10 followers   

追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件

参考例句：

• the followers of Mahatma Gandhi 圣雄甘地的拥护者
• The reformer soon gathered a band of followers round him. 改革者很快就获得一群追随者支持他。

11 prosecuted   

a.被起诉的

参考例句：

• The editors are being prosecuted for obscenity. 编辑因刊载污秽文字而被起诉。
• The company was prosecuted for breaching the Health and Safety Act. 这家公司被控违反《卫生安全条例》。

12 imposing   

adj.使人难忘的，壮丽的，堂皇的，雄伟的

参考例句：

• The fortress is an imposing building.这座城堡是一座宏伟的建筑。
• He has lost his imposing appearance.他已失去堂堂仪表。