PHOTO (L to R): Didier Drogba and Samuel Eto’o.
Ex-African football stars Samuel Eto’o and Didier Drogba have blasted suggestions that COVI-19 vaccines should be tested in Africa.
On Thursday, April 2, Camille Locht, Director of the Research Institute of the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM), and Jean Paul Mira, Cochin Hospital Intensive Care Service Officer, while being interviewed on a TV show in France, suggested that the ongoing COVID-19 vaccine trial should be conducted in Africa.
If I can be provocative, shouldn’t we be doing this study in Africa, where there are no masks, no treatments, no resuscitation?” Dr Mira said on TV channel LCI.
A bit like as it is done elsewhere for some studies on Aids. In prostitutes, we try things because we know that they are highly exposed and that they do not protect themselves.” said Dr. Mira.
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The expression by French doctor angered most Africans and who would blame them? Since the outbreak of COVID-19, Africa has recorded the least number of cases and as such fewer deaths (290) according to the World Health Organization compared to Europe, America and Asia.
A curious person would want to ask why Africa has to be considered a testing ground and not countries which are continually being wrecked by the virus.
World corona virus cases have surpassed one million with the USA topping the charts. This prompted the African superstars to immediately express their dissatisfaction as they took it their social media accounts.
Ivorian ex-captain and former Chelsea Football Club talisman, Didier Drogba reacted by saying that it is high time African leaders protect their citizens.
Let us save ourselves from this crazy virus that is plummeting the world economy and ravaging populations health worldwide. Do not take African people as human guinnea pigs! It’s absolutely disgusting….” said Drogba on Twitter.
Africa isn’t a testing lab. I would like to vividly denounce those demeaning, false and most of all deeply racists words.” Drogba added.
Ex-Indomitable Lions, FC Barcelona forward captain and Inter-Milan striker Samuel Eto’o on his part reacted bitterly to the suggestion by the two French Doctors, calling their expression “racist”. Eto’o added to his frustration by calling the doctors “assassins” on Twitter and denouncing that Africa isn’t a “Play” ground.
So far according to the World Health Organization, Africa has slightly over 7000 cases of people with coronavirus and 290 deaths recorded, with South Africa recording the highest number of cases.
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Why should Africa be a testing grounding when Italy’s death poll stands at roughly 14000 people? Should they not be focusing on testing it on people who are already sick and dying from this virus in high numbers?
Current world COVID-19 statistics shows that over 53,000 people have lost their lives to the virus.
For more information on COVID-19 visit: www.cdc.com | www.coronavirus.com
