The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) has condemned as “racist” the comments by two French doctors who suggested a vaccine for the coronavirus could be tested in Africa.
“Africa can’t and won’t be a testing ground for any vaccine,” said Director General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
The doctors’ remarks during a TV debate sparked outrage, and they were accused of treating Africans like “human guinea pigs”.
One of them later issued an apology.
When asked about the doctors’ suggestion during the WHO’s coronavirus briefing, Dr Tedros became visibly angry, calling it a hangover from the “colonial mentality”.
“It was a disgrace, appalling, to hear during the 21st Century, to hear from scientists, that kind of remark. We condemn this in the strongest terms possible, and we assure you that this will not happen,” he said.
As the number of confirmed cases in Africa continues to rise, some governments are imposing stricter measures to try to slow the spread of the virus. Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta has banned all travel in and out of the capital, Nairobi, and three other large towns for three weeks.
During a debate on French TV channel LCI, Camille Locht, head of research at Inserm health research group, was talking about a vaccine trial in Europe and Australia.
Jean-Paul Mira, head of intensive care at Cochin hospital in Paris, then said: “If I can be provocative, shouldn’t we be doing this study in Africa, where there are no masks, no treatments, no resuscitation?
“A bit like it is done elsewhere for some studies on Aids. In prostitutes, we try things because we know that they are highly exposed and that they do not protect themselves.”
Mr Locht nodded in agreement at this suggestion, and said: “You are right. We are in the process of thinking about a study in parallel in Africa.”
Dr Mira had earlier questioned whether the study would work as planned on healthcare workers in Australia and Europe because they had access to personal protective equipment (PPE) while working.
The show sparked widespread anger, including from former footballer Didier Drogba, who called the comments “deeply racist”. He added: “Do not take African people as human guinea pigs! It’s absolutely disgusting”.
Fellow former footballer Samuel Eto’o called the doctors “murderers”.
The doctors’ comments have also fuelled existing fears in Africa that African people will be used as guinea pigs for a new coronavirus vaccine.
Coronavirus centres have been targeted in African countries – most recently, a facility that was under construction in Abidjan in Ivory Coast was attacked and destroyed by protesters.
—
Related:
Ethiopia Declares State of Emergency, Recruits Health Workers to Fight Virus
Ethiopia Virus Cases Hit 52 (LATEST UPDATE)
Ethio-American Tech Company PhantomALERT Offers Free App to Track & Map COVID-19 Outbreak
‘Your Safety is Our Priority’: How Ethiopian Airlines is Navigating the Global Virus Crisis
Inspiring Amharic Poetry: A Reflection by Shimelis Amare (YouTube)
Getting Through COVID 19: ECMAA Shares Resources With Ethiopian Community
Maryland Issues COVID-19 Fact Sheet in Amharic for Ethiopian Community
Art in the Time of Coronavirus: Guide to Virtual Exhibitions from Ethiopia to U.S.
We Need Seismic Change, Right Now: by Marcus Samuelsson
City Sleeps: A Look At The Empty NYC Streets Amid The Virus – In Pictures
Ethiopia enforces 14-day quarantine for all travelers
Diaspora-based Tech Professionals Launch Ethiopia COVID-19 Response Task Force
Amid COVID-19 Pandemic Hopeful & Inspiring Stories Shared by Obama
Pleas to Diaspora to Assist Coronavirus First Responders in Ethiopia
Coronavirus Sparks an Epidemic of People Helping People in Seattle