VOA - Nigeria's Uche Amazigo Wins Big Award for Public Health

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KC5xS1v12tM&list=UUKyTokYo0nK2OA-az-sDijA

From VOA Learning English, this is the Health Report in Special English. Nigerian doctor Uche Amazigo has received the Prince Mahidol Award for outstanding efforts in public health. Dr. Amazigo recently traveled to Thailand to receive the award. She has been a leader in sub-Saharan Africa in the fight against the disease known as river blindness. 

The disease begins when people are bitten by the black flies that spread the infection. The disease is known as river blindness because the flies live near fast-moving rivers and streams. Tiny worms spread throughout the body. This incites the body's immune system to attempt to fight the invaders. But the body's intense response can destroy the eye nerves. The infection can cause not only blindness. It also causes a painful skin disease.T

he cause of river blindness was first identified in Guatemala almost 100 years ago. The disease continues to be a serious health problem in many African nations and in Yemen. Medical treatment lasting as long as 20 years is necessary to keep victims free from the parasite that causes the disease. 

Dr. Amazigo is a former director of the World Health Organization's African Program for Onchocerciasis Control. That is the medical name for river blindness. Dr. Amazigo organized local treatment programs in communities. Now, 117,000 communities under 19 African governments treat the disease locally. In 1987, the drug manufacturer Merck launched a program to provide a medicine called ivermectin to everyone affected by the disease. The company said it would provide the treatment for free, as long as necessary, through the community-directed program. For VOA Learning English, I'm Carolyn Presutti. (Adapted from a radio program broadcast 20Feb2013)

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outstanding : 뛰어난, 걸출한

disease : 질병, 도

river blindness : 사상충증(강에 사는 일부 파리의 기생충을 통해 감염되는 열대 피부병. 사람의 눈을 멀게 할 수도 있음)

black flies : 검은색 벌래들

infection : 감염

throughout : 도처에, ~동안 죽, 내내

incite : 선동하다, 조장하다

immune : 면역성이 있는, 면역이 된, ~이 면제되는

attempt : (힘들일에 대한) 시도

intense : 극심한, 강렬한

nerves : 신경

identified : 형/확인된

lasting : 형/지속적인, 영속적인

as long as : ~하는 한, 하는 동안

parasite : 기생동물

former : 형/예전의, 명/제작자, 구성자

Onchocerciasis : 사상충증

treat : 치료하다

manufacturer : 제조사

ivermectin(이버멕틴) : 기생 선충·진드기구충약.

affect : 영향을 미치는

affected : 가장된, 꾸민 / (병에)걸린, 영향을 받는