Just days after two doctors suggested a vaccine for coronavirus was tested in Africa, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has now condemned their comments and has assured the world that the continent will not become a testing ground for a vaccine.
Reacting to the comments made by two French doctors yesterday (April 6), the head of WHO – Director General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus – said: “Africa can’t and won’t be a testing ground for any vaccine.”
Tedros’ response comes days after Camille Locht – head of research at Inserm health research group – and Jean-Paul MIira – head of intensive care at Cochin hospital in Paris – sparked outrage for treating Africans like “guinea pigs” when they recommended testing vaccines for COVID-19 in Africa.
Dr Tedros also strongly condemned the remarks from the doctors, saying their suggestions stemmed from “colonial mentality”.
He added: “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.”