VOA慢速英语:Child Hunger Costs Ethiopian Economy Billions Of Dollars

A new study shows that child hunger costs Ethiopia billions of dollars a year in economic losses. The research showed that in 2009, the country lost an estimated $4.7 billion because its children do not get enough to eat, that is equal to 16.5 percent of its Gross Domestic Product.
一项新研究表明，儿童饥饿每年造成埃塞俄比亚数十亿美元的经济损失。该研究显示，在2009年，因为孩子们没有足够的食物，该国估计损失了47亿美元，也就是相当于其国内生产总值的16.5%。

The report says poor nutrition has slowed growth and development in two of every five children in Ethiopia, and it says 80 percent of malnourished children do not get treatments.
报告称，在埃塞俄比亚，营养不良减缓了2/5儿童的生长发育，而且它说，80%营养不良的儿童没有得到治疗。

The African Union Commission, the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) and Ethiopian government agencies did the study. The research shows that malnutrition causes more than 20 percent of child deaths in Ethiopia. And the report notes that the deaths have reduced the number of working people in the country by eight percent.
非洲联盟委员会、联合国世界粮食计划署（WFP）和埃塞俄比亚政府机构进行了这项研究。研究结果表明，埃塞俄比亚死亡的儿童有超过20%是营养不良导致的。报告还指出，这一死亡使得该国劳动力减少了8%。

Elizabeth Byrs is a World Food Program official.
Elizabeth Byrs是世界粮食计划署的官员。

"The study estimates that Ethiopia could reduce losses by $12.5 billion by 2025, if it reduces underweight rates to five percent and stunting to 10 percent."
“该研究估计，如果埃塞俄比亚能把体重不足的比例降低到5%，发育不良的比例降低到10%，那么到2025年就能减少125亿美元的损失。”

The report says under developed or stunted children in early education repeat grades more than non-stunted children. In addition, stunted children in Ethiopia are more likely to drop out of school, meaning they will end their education before it is completed.
该报告称，在早期教育中发育不良儿童比正常儿童留级次数更多。此外，埃塞俄比亚发育不良的儿童更容易辍学，这意味着他们会在完成学业之前结束他们的教育。

Mrs Byrs said the effects of stunting do not end with childhood. Instead, she said, stunting remains a life-long problem. She said it affects both those who suffer from it, and the larger society. The report says nearly 70 percent of adults in Ethiopia have suffered from stunting as children. It says this means more than 26 million people of working age have not been able to reach their potential.
Byrs女士说，发育不良的影响不会随着童年而结束。相反，她说，发育不良仍是一个终身问题。她说，这会同时影响到发育不良的人和更大的社会圈子。报告称，埃塞俄比亚近70%的成年人在儿童时期经历过发育不良，这意味着超过2600万适龄劳动力没能达到他们的潜力。

The report notes that adults who were stunted as children are less likely to have jobs that require a lot of physical labor, because they generally are smaller. It says this results in earnings losses.
报告指出，在儿童时期发育不良的成年人不太可能从事大量体力劳动的工作，因为他们一般都比较瘦小。报告称，这将导致盈利损失。

Mrs Byrs said the Ethiopian government recently launched a half-billion dollar National Nutrition Program, because the effects of the malnutrition are so severe. She said the government's program would provide food and vitamins to young children from birth through age 5. She said the goal is to prevent stunting during the first 1,000 days of life.
Byrs女士还表示，埃塞俄比亚政府最近推出了一个价值5亿美元的国民营养计划，因为营养不良的影响是如此严重。她说，这项政府计划将为从出生到5岁的幼儿提供食物和维生素，她说目标是在幼儿最初的1000天里防止发育不良。

Mrs Byrs also said the program will increase school feeding programs. She said support programs for pregnant and breast-feeding women will be developed in health centers and hospitals.
Byrs女士还表示，该计划将增加学校的供餐计划。她说，支持孕妇和哺乳期妇女扶的划也将在保健中心和医院开展。