英语听力精选进阶版 13758

（单词翻译）

Worst place to be a mother

 Summary

10 May 2012

The West African state of Niger, currently severely¹ affected² by a growing regional food crisis, has become the worst place in the world to be a mother, according to Save the Children.

Reporter:

Mike Wooldridge

Report

This year's report highlights the major impact nutrition has on the welfare of mothers and children, in particular, the chronic³ malnutrition⁴ that undermines physical and mental growth, producing stunting⁵ and what Save the Children calls the vicious cycle of mothers stunted⁶ in childhood who go on to give birth to underweight and vulnerable babies. 

Food emergencies compound the impact, and Niger is at the epicentre of the emergency currently developing in the Sahel. After two years at the bottom of the index Afghanistan has moved up one position, partly, Save the Children says, because it's invested in more front-line health workers. 

The agency says the simple measure of supporting more mothers to breastfeed could save a million children's lives a year. 

Save the Children identifies Norway as the best place to be a mother. It ranks the United Kingdom tenth.