French scientists’ remarks spark a storm of criticism
PARIS: Two leading French doctors on Friday insisted they had been misunderstood after sparking a storm of criticism by discussing the idea of testing a vaccine for coronavirus in Africa on television. Although they later apologized for any offence caused if their comments had not been clear, former international and Ivory Coast football star Didier Drogba joined lawyers and a French anti-racism organization in criticizing the remarks made on Wednesday in a broadcast on the LCI channel.
Camille Locht, head of research at the National Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM) in Lille, was questioned about a shield for coronavirus using the well-known BCG vaccine for tuberculosis. He was asked by Jean-Paul Mira, head of intensive care at the Cochin hospital in Paris, whether Africa offered better conditions for testing the vaccine.
“If I could be provocative, shouldn’t we be doing this study in Africa, where there are no masks, no treatment, no intensive care, rather as was done with certain studies on AIDS, where things are tested on prostitutes because it’s known that they are highly exposed (to HIV)?” Mira asked. “What do you think?” Locht replied: “You’re right, we are thinking in parallel by the way about a study in Africa with the same kind of approach, (but) it doesn’t prevent us from being able to think about a study in Europe and Australia at the same time.”
Scientists who carry out clinical trials try to find conditions in which large numbers of people are exposed to the disease, as this gives a better opportunity for testing a new drug. Such trials are carried out under strict supervision, which requires volunteers to be briefed about any risks and to give their informed consent. But the idea of having Africa as a setting for a coronavirus vaccine is controversial.
‘Racist’
Africa is the world’s poorest continent and its citizens bear the least responsibility for spreading the virus, which originated in China and spread to the Middle East, Europe and the United States through jet travel. At the same time, Africans are badly exposed to the microbe, both in terms of preparedness and health care. Former international football star Drogba was among those who criticised the remarks about testing in Africa. “It is inconceivable that we continue to accept this. Africa is not a laboratory. I strongly denounce these very serious, racist and contemptuous words,” the former Chelsea and Marseille striker wrote on his Facebook page and on Twitter. “Help us save lives in Africa and stop the spread of the virus that is destabilizing the whole world instead of seeing us as guinea pigs. It is absurd.” A French anti-racism NGO, SOS Racisme, issued a statement saying, “No, Africans aren’t guinea pigs” and described the comparison with AIDS and prostitutes as “problematic” and “unwelcome.” But in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the head of the national biological research institute, Jean-Jacques Muyembe, suggested that the country was prepared to take part in any testing of a future vaccine. “We’ve been chosen to conduct these tests. We’re candidates,” Muyembe said, suggesting that clinical trials could begin in July or August.