The World Health Organization head slammed comments made by two French doctors who suggested a vaccine for the coronavirus could be tested in Africa, reported Africa News.
The WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the comment made by the doctors is “racist”.
“Africa cannot and will not be a testing ground for any vaccine,” Tedros said during a virtual news conference.
He insisted that the WHO will follow all the rules to test any vaccine or therapeutics all over the world, whether it is in Europe, Africa or any other place in the world.
When asked about the doctors’ suggestion during the WHO’s coronavirus briefing, Dr Tedros got 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,” he said. “We condemn this in the strongest terms possible, and we assure you that this will not happen.”
The coronavirus pandemic, which originated in China’s Wuhan in December last year, has spread very rapidly all through the world.
As far as Africa in concerned, the continental tally has crossed the 10,000 mark with close to 500 deaths and 1,000 deaths.
South Africa is Africa’s most impacted with over 1,680 confirmed coronavirus cases and 12 deaths. The South African authorities have taken steps to limit and prevent the spread of COVID-19, including the 21-day nationwide lockdown declared by President Cyril Ramaphosa on March 23.
Lesotho and Comoros are the only two Africa’s virus free countries as of April 6. On Monday, Sao Tome became the 52nd African country to record first cases of COVID-19. The Prime Minister confirmed that four persons had tested positive.
According to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, forty-three of Africa’s 54 countries have closed their borders to try to curb the spread of coronavirus. More than half of Africa’s 54 countries have imposed lockdowns, curfews, travel bans or other restrictions.
