VOA慢速英語:Aging Countries Look to Vietnam to Fill Nursing Gap

From VOA Learning English, this is the Health Report.

這里是美國之音慢速英語健康報道。

Japan and Germany have the world's oldest populations, but neither country has enough trained health care workers to meet the needs of older adults. So, they are turning to Vietnam for help.

日本和德國的人口老齡化在全球最嚴重，但這兩個國家都沒有足夠多訓練有素的醫(yī)護工作者來滿足老年人的需求。所以它們正轉(zhuǎn)向越南尋求幫助。

This month, 100 young Vietnamese are going to Germany as part of a project to train what are called geriatric nurses to work in the European country. The trainees recently completed a six-month language and culture class in Hanoi, they will spend the next two years in an occupational training program. If the trainees pass the final exam, they will be able to work in Germany as geriatric nurses for another 3 years.

本月，作為培訓到歐洲工作的老年科護士項目的一部分，100名越南年輕人去往德國。這些學員們最近在越南河內(nèi)市完成了一項為期六個月的語言文化課，今后兩年她們將參加一項職業(yè)培訓課程。如果這些學員們通過結(jié)業(yè)考試，她們就能作為老年科護士在德國再工作三年。

Germany is facing a crisis as low birth rates combine with a growing population of citizens who are living longer. About 20 percent of the population is over the age of 65, and that percentage is expected to continue rising.

德國正面臨著一場低出生率和高壽命相結(jié)合的危機。德國人口近20%在65歲以上，而且這一比例預計將繼續(xù)提高。

This is a problem Japan also faces. Later this year, 150 Vietnamese candidates will go to Japan for two years of training at the country's hospitals, after that they are expected to take the national nursing exam.

日本也面臨這樣一個問題。今年晚些時候，150名越南考生將前往日本的醫(yī)院進行為期兩年的培訓。之后她們有望參加日本全國護理考試。

Japan already trains nurses from the Philippines and Indonesia, but the health care system has been criticized for being too restrictive. All candidates must take the same exam, but it is very difficult for foreign applicants because few can speak the Japanese language.

日本已經(jīng)開始培訓來自菲律賓和印尼的護士，但該國的衛(wèi)生保健系統(tǒng)一直被批過于嚴格。所有考生必須參加相同的考試，但這對外國考生來說非常困難，因為很少有人會講日語。

Yoko Tsuruya is the first secretary at the Japan's embassy in Hanoi. She says foreign nationals are given some help to complete the test, like being given more time to answer questions. To improve training, the government plans to combine language classes with real-life experience on the job.

鶴屋洋子(Yoko Tsuruya)是日本駐河內(nèi)大使館的一秘。她說，日本為外國人提供了一些幫助以通過考試，像外國人被給予了更多的答題時間。為了提升培訓效果，日本政府計劃把語言課程和該工作的真實體驗結(jié)合起來。

Even with an aging population, many Japanese are opposed to foreigners working in some industries. Critics say foreign labor could lead to higher unemployment, but there is little opposition to foreign nurses.

即使面臨人口老齡化，許多日本人還是反對外國人到某些行業(yè)工作。批評者說，外國勞工可能會導致更高的失業(yè)率。但很少有人反對“洋護士”。

In Vietnam, the situation is very different. 60 percent of the population was born after the Vietnam war ended in 1985. There is not enough jobs for everyone who wants one. Most children are expected to care for their aging parents when they get old.

而越南的情況完全不同。越南60%的人口出生于1985年結(jié)束的越戰(zhàn)之后，國內(nèi)無法為求職者提供足夠的工作崗位。預計許多孩子將在長大后照顧年邁的父母。

Huong Thi Thi - the nurse trainee, thinks that in the future, Vietnam will need more hospitals for its elderly, but she adds, learning the skills overseas can help the Vietnamese develop this area for themselves.

實習護士Huong Thi Thi認為在未來，越南將需要為其老年人提供更多醫(yī)院，但她補充表示，在海外學習這些技能有助于越南發(fā)展自己的這一領(lǐng)域。