The World Health Organization has condemned the call by some doctors to use Africa as the testing ground for the Coronavirus vaccine.
WHO described such comment as racist and a hangover from Colonial Mentality.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a virtual news conference, insisting “we will follow all the rules to test any vaccine or therapeutics all over the world whether it is in Europe, Africa or wherever.”
The doctors have received backlashes for inferring that the Coronavirus vaccine should be tested in Africa.
“It may be provocative. Should we not do this study in Africa where there are no masks, no treatment or intensive care, a little bit like it’s been done for certain AIDS studies, where among prostitutes, we try things, because we know that they are highly exposed and don’t protect themselves?” said Jean-Paul Mira, head of the intensive care unit at the Cochin Hospital in Paris.
Camille Locht, research director at France’s national health institute, Inserm, agreed: “You are right. And by the way, we are thinking of in parallel about a study in Africa using this same approach.”
These comments have led to widespread criticisms from Africans and many across the world.
