There is outrage among the black population in France after two doctors on live television pushed for Africa to be the first place where coronavirus treatments be tested.
The doctors agree that Africa has less face masks and other essential health supplies and required treatment for coronavirus patients but still pushed for the continent to be used for the experimental treatment of any potential vaccine, treatment or cure.
On a local TV channel LCI, one of the doctors named as Dr Jean-Paul Mira said “If I can be provocative, shouldn’t we do this study in Africa, where there are no masks, no treatment, no resuscitation, a bit like it has been done in some studies in AIDS, where among prostitutes, we try things, because they are exposed, and they don’t protect themselves, what do you think?”
The other doctor also named as Dr Camille Locht joined the conversation saying “So you are right[…]we’re thinking in parallel to a study in Africa precisely to make this same type of approach w/ BCG [vaccine]placebo.
I think there is a call for tenders that was released or that will be released & I think we will indeed seriously think about that too.”
So far there is no cure for the deadly virus but scientists around the world are still working on a potential vaccine.
There are no experimental vaccines yet for usage as the world is still months behind a potential vaccine.
So the suggestions by these French doctors for Africa to be used to test any potential experimental vaccine has angered some who think the West continues to value Africans as less of other humans.
Anger on social media
On social media users expressed anger over the development with some popular figures such as former football star Didier Drogba saying “Do not take African people as human guinnea pigs! It’s absolutely disgusting.
African leaders have a responsibility to protect their populations from those horrendous conspiracies.”
Let us save ourselves from this crazy virus that is plummeting the world economy and ravaging populations health worldwide.
— Didier Drogba (@didierdrogba) April 2, 2020
Do not take African people as human guinnea pigs! It’s absolutely disgusting...
This is horrific. Two French doctors on live television are discussing how a potential new treatment against #covid19 should be first tested in Africa, "where are no masks, no treatment, no reanimation", "the same way experimental treatment for AIDS was done on prostitutes". https://t.co/ojYb8GnKkI
— Rim-Sarah Alouane (@RimSarah) April 2, 2020
This is horrific. Two French doctors on live television are discussing how a potential new treatment against #covid19 should be first tested in Africa, "where are no masks, no treatment, no reanimation", "the same way experimental treatment for AIDS was done on prostitutes". https://t.co/ojYb8GnKkI
— Rim-Sarah Alouane (@RimSarah) April 2, 2020
We will be looking out for you when you arrive. Please consult Pfizer for their experience with their TROVAN trial in Kano;1996 resolved 14 years later in 2010.If you can’t find them, google it. Whichever way, hide real well cos, we are on the lookout if NIGERIA is on your radar.
— Babatunde Irukera (@TundeIrukera) April 2, 2020
Globally at least one million people have been infected by the virus with over 50,000 deaths so far as at April 2, 2020.
Africa has so far recorded over 6,200 cases with over 200 deaths as at April 2, 2020. The continent is still the least affected by the pandemic.
