The two French doctors, Jean Paul Mira and Camille Locht, who spoke on a live TV Interview, insisted that Africa is the best place to conduct such test as they recalled how an experimental treatment for AIDS was carried out in Africa
The statement has since triggered global outrage as some described it as racist.
Reacting, the international health agency’s chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, while speaking in a virtual news conference, described the comment as “racist” and a hangover from “colonial mentality”.
He said, ”Africa cannot and will not be a testing ground for any vaccine.
”We will follow all the rules to test any vaccine or therapeutics all over the world, whether it is in Europe, Africa or wherever.”
However, Jean Paul Mira, who is the Intensive care unit (ICU) head at the Cochin hospital in Paris, had earlier apologized for his statement after being slammed, describing his comment on using Africa as a testing ground as ‘a clumsy one.’
AFRICA DAILY NEWS, NEW YORK