By VOA

01 October, 2013

From VOA Learning English, this is the Health Report.

The World Health Organization says women aged 50 and older are generally in better health now than they were 20 to 30 years ago. But a new study confirms that older women in rich countries live longer than those in the developing world and the differences in life expectancy are widening.

The World Health Organization says heart disease, stroke and cancers are the leading causes of death of women aged 50 years and older. But it says women in developing countries can often die from one of these problems at an earlier age.

The study is one of the first to examine the causes of death of women aged 50 years and older from several rich and poor countries. It found that many women die at a young age because they live in places that lack for money to prevent, identify and treat non-communicable diseases.

Colin Mathers is head of the WHO Mortality and Burden of Disease Unit. He says developed countries have the money and health systems to reduce and control heart disease. He says cancer of the cervix is one of the leading cancers among African women. He says the disease is largely preventable, but African countries have fewer resources to treat it.

"There is simply not enough money to provide high quality health care to everyone that is accessible. And, also a matter of human resources, that there often are not enough trained doctors and nurses and other health professionals in the country."

Dr. Mathers says donors give comparatively little money to fight non-communicable diseases in African. He says most of the money goes instead toward reducing the number of women dying during child birth. This has helped to bring down maternal mortality rates, but death rates among older women have increased.

The study found on average, women over 50 live at least 3.5 years longer than they did 20 years ago. Older women in Japan now can expect to live 88 years. In Germany, the life expectancy rate for older women is 84. Women in many other developed countries can expect to live to age 83 or 84. But women in poorer countries die about 10 years earlier.

Dr. Mathers says major risks for older women include smoking, the harmful use of alcohol, and being overweight or obese.

The World Health Organization says the number of long-lasting diseases can be cut through cost-effective methods to stop common diseases. These include prevention, early identification and control of high blood pressure, obesity and high cholesterol.

And that's the Health Report from VOA Learning English. I'm Milagros Ardin.

From VOA Learning English, this is the Health Report.

这里是美国之音慢速英语健康报道。

The World Health Organization says women aged 50 and older are generally in better health now than they were 20 to 30 years ago. But a new study confirms that older women in rich countries live longer than those in the developing world and the differences in life expectancy are widening.

世界卫生组织称，50岁及以上年龄妇女目前比二、三十年前更为健康。但一项新的研究证实，富裕国家的老年妇女比发展中国家妇女寿命更长，而且寿命的差异正在扩大。

The World Health Organization says heart disease, stroke and cancers are the leading causes of death of women aged 50 years and older. But it says women in developing countries can often die from one of these problems at an earlier age.

世界卫生组织表示，心脏病、中风和癌症是50岁及以上年龄妇女死亡的主要原因。但它表示，发展中国家妇女经常会在更早的年龄因为这其中一种疾病去世。

The study is one of the first to examine the causes of death of women aged 50 years and older from several rich and poor countries. It found that many women die at a young age because they live in places that lack for money to prevent, identify and treat non-communicable diseases.

这项研究是首次调查数个富裕和贫穷国家50岁及以上年龄妇女死因的研究之一。该研究发现，很多妇女早逝是因为她们所居之地缺乏资金来预防、确诊和治疗非传染性疾病。

Colin Mathers is head of the WHO Mortality and Burden of Disease Unit. He says developed countries have the money and health systems to reduce and control heart disease. He says cancer of the cervix is one of the leading cancers among African women. He says the disease is largely preventable, but African countries have fewer resources to treat it.

科林·马瑟斯(Colin Mathers)是世界卫生组织死亡率和疾病负担部门的负责人。他表示，发达国家拥有减少和控制心脏疾病的资金和卫生系统。他说，宫颈癌是非洲女性中最主要的癌症之一，这种疾病很大程度上可以预防，但非洲国家没有足够资源来处理这种疾病。

"There is simply not enough money to provide high quality health care to everyone that is accessible. And, also a matter of human resources, that there often are not enough trained doctors and nurses and other health professionals in the country."

马瑟斯说，“非洲根本没有足够资金向所有人提供高品质的医疗保健，而且人手方面也存在问题，非洲国内经常缺少训练有素的医生、护士以及其它专业卫生人员。

Dr. Mathers says donors give comparatively little money to fight non-communicable diseases in African. He says most of the money goes instead toward reducing the number of women dying during child birth. This has helped to bring down maternal mortality rates, but death rates among older women have increased.

马瑟斯表示表示，捐赠人在非洲提供的用于对抗非传染性疾病的资金相对较少，大部分资金都用于降低分娩时的妇女死亡人数。这样做有助于降低孕产妇死亡率，但老年妇女死亡率却增加了。

The study found on average, women over 50 live at least 3.5 years longer than they did 20 years ago. Older women in Japan now can expect to live 88 years. In Germany, the life expectancy rate for older women is 84. Women in many other developed countries can expect to live to age 83 or 84. But women in poorer countries die about 10 years earlier.

该研究发现，50岁以上妇女比20年前平均多活至少3.5年。日本老年妇女目前有望活到88岁，德国老年妇女的预期寿命是84岁，其它发达国家妇女有望活到83或84岁。但贫穷国家的妇女要少活10年左右。

Dr. Mathers says major risks for older women include smoking, the harmful use of alcohol, and being overweight or obese.

马瑟斯博士表示，老年妇女面临的主要风险包括吸烟、过度饮酒，以及超重或肥胖。

The World Health Organization says the number of long-lasting diseases can be cut through cost-effective methods to stop common diseases. These include prevention, early identification and control of high blood pressure, obesity and high cholesterol.

世界卫生组织表示，可以通过采取成本低收效大的方式遏制常见疾病来减少慢性病的数量。这些方式包括高血压、肥胖以及高胆固醇的预防、早期确诊和控制。