Many Children’s Deaths Preventable: WHO Over five million children die each year from disease, infections and accidents related __B___1_____ their environment although many of these deaths are largely preventable, says the World Health Organization. On Monday, the WHO asked governments and citizens around the world to take action1 to create healthy ___A__2_____ for children as it celebrated World Health Day. “The biggest threats to children’s health lurk in the very __A__3_____ that should be safest —home, school and community,” said Dr. Gro Harlem Brundtland, director-general of the WHO at the day’s launch in New Delhi, India. “Every child has the right to ___C__4____ up in a healthy home, school and community. The future development of our children—and their world—depends on __D__5___ enjoying good health now. We have their future in our __A__6_____. Now we must work more effectively together to __B__7___ the risks from the environment which our children face,” Brundtland said. This year’s theme, “Healthy Environments for Children” focuses on the many dangers __D__8____ by children in and around the places where they live and play. These include inadequate access to safe drinking __A__9___ and sanitation, insect-borne diseases,2 air pollution, chemical hazards and injuries from traffic, falls, burns and drownings. Communities around the world organized events to promote awareness of children’s health issues,3 _C____10_____ included drawing contests for schoolchildren in Vietnam, street plays in India, puppet shows in Namibia and professional lectures for policy makers in Germany and elsewhere. Activities also took ___D___11_____ in cities across Canada on Monday, including Calgary, Montreal, Halifax and Ottawa. Although children under five represent only 10 per cent of the world’s population, they bear 40 per cent of the global disease ___A__12_____, says the WHO. And as much as one-third of the total burden of disease may be caused by environmental ___D__13______. World Health Day has been celebrated on April 7th __B__14_____ 1950. Each year the WHO chooses a theme to highlight areas of particular concern. Last year’s ___C__15____, Move for Health, focused on promoting physical activity as part of healthy living.
1. A) by B) to C) on D) at 2. A) environments B) foods C) colors D) moods 3. A) places B) chances C) times D) posts 4. A) stay B) pick C) grow D) get 5. A) our B) your C) his D) their 6. A) hands B) arms C) hopes D) happiness 7. A) run B) reduce C) take D) regard 8. A) hated B) stated C) reached D) faced 9. A) water B) liquid C) methods D) sources 10. A) that B) what C) which D) some 11. A) shape B) order C) route D) place 12. A) burden B) penalty C) suffering D) difficulty 13. A) reasons B) courses C) facts D) factors 14. A) after B) since C) in D) for 15. A) concern B) area C) theme D) celebration