Didier Drogba joins row after French scientists suggest testing virus vaccine in Africa

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 apologised 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 organisation in criticising 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 destabilising 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.”

– DR Congo ready –

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.

“At some point, COVID-19 will be uncontrollable,” the virologist continued.

“The only way to control will be a vaccine, just like Ebola. It was a vaccine that helped us end the Ebola epidemic.”

The CSA, the ethics watchdog for radio and television in France, told AFP it had received a complaint.

Among those who voiced anger on social media was an association of lawyers in Morocco, which said it planned to file a lawsuit for “racial defamation.”

INSERM said that an “edited video was leading to erroneous interpretations (of the comments) on social media.”

It said on Twitter that trials would take place in several European countries and Australia, and “Africa should not be forgotten or excluded from research, as the pandemic is global.”

Mira closed down public access to his Twitter account after receiving what he said were threats and insults.

– ‘Sincerest apologies’ –

He told the Huffington Post that he was deeply upset by the accusations made against him, and apologised if his comments had not been “clear.”

“Clinical trials take place everywhere. Less so in Africa,” he said.

A trial conducted in a local setting could unlock knowledge that could lead to local benefits, he said.

He pointed to the study on sex workers and HIV, “which was done to protect prostitutes in South Africa.”

Paris hospitals similarly issued a statement in which Mira offered his “sincerest apologies” to “those who were shocked and offended” by his comments.

His lawyers said that Mira and his family had suffered repeated death threats.

In a message sent to AFP, INSERM said that “the conditions in which this interview was conducted did not allow (Camille Locht) to react correctly, he apologises and wishes to specify that he made no racist comments.”