Director General Tedros Adhanom said “Africa cannot be a testing ground for any vaccine”. Angrily he said this goes against the “soladirty” that he has called for and that the suggestion was a hangover from “colonial mentality”.
He added “it is a disgrace, appalling during the 21st century to hear from scientist that kind of remark. We condemn this in the strongest terms possible and we assure you this well not happen”. His address came after two French doctors said the vaccines should be tested in Africa as Africans are the most highly exposed.
Jean-Paul Mira who leads the Cochin hospital in Paris said, “If I can be provocative, shouldn’t we be doing this study in Africa where there are no mask, no treatment and no resuscitation?.
The discussion which was aired in French TV created a global uproar with many, including Ivory Coast and international footballer Didier Drogba, taking to social media to express disgust at the “racist” views and that “Africa isn’t a testing lab.”
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