By Ebriku John Friday
The Africa Union Economic, Social and Cultural Council, (AU-ECOSOCC) Nigeria home office has noted with dismay, the plan/suggestion by some Scientists from Europe, especially France that, “Africans should be used as lab rats for vaccines being tested”.
The Nigeria Representative, Mr Oba Olasunkanmi John, in a statement in Abuja on Sunday said that, though, the Council commiserates with Europeans countries and other nations of the world that are currently being affected adversely by COVID-19 imbrogrolio.
“In as much as we all know that this virus is a global challenges being faced by almost all the countries of the world, it should not be reason(s) for Scientists who should be guided by the Vienna convention to utter words capable of causing more harm to Africans at this period where everybody should show love and uphold that fulcrum that binded us together as humans”.
In view of aforementioned, the African Union Economic, Social and Cultural Council condemn in totality statement credited to French Scientists that, vaccines being produced for COVID-19 be first tested on Africans simply because Africans recorded lowest death from COVID-19.
The AU ECOSOCC Nigeria representative said, “while the most recent survey shows that 65,605 people have dead globally, with United States alone has recorded 8,454 dead, China has 3,329, France has 7,560, Spain has 12,418 and Italy has 15,362 deaths, Germany 1,444, UK 4,313 and Iran 3,603 compared to the entire Africa that has so far recorded 280 deaths. It is not out of place to point out the least mortality rate among the G20 member countries which is much higher than the entire Africa countries put together”.
Though, it is a known fact that Africa has served in the past as laboratories for European and America experiments. This is yet another proof of Neo-colonization. It is, in practice, what Achille Mbembe denounces as “necropolitics”, a situation where the State decides who should die.
But to think that such level of racism can still be displayed in the 21st century and at a time like this when the whole world is grieving shows the level of contempt with which Africans are held and how derogatorily Africans in Diaspora are being treated.
“I want to state without mixing words, that, if there is need for any tests, it should be carried out in countries with the highest rates of COVID-19 infection”. Africa people will not accept to be treated as guinea pigs!
It is on record that Africans have some of the best brains in the health sector, hence, it is high time Africa leaders look within to solve their health problems and see how to develop the much needed health sector.
Africans have some of the best Tradomedicine practitioners in the world; they should be encouraged as part of efforts to achieve the Agenda 2063 of the Africa Union.
Africa leaders must understand that this war is not only against corona virus, but also an economic war that must be fought collectively.
Commending the efforts of President Muhammadu Buhari and others World leaders who have been working vigorously to ensure that this COVID-19 is brought to an end.
Oba said, it is high time Africans stand together, speak with one voice and work through African institutions to mobilise resources and harmonize support from international partners. There is need through coordinated action to materialize all commitments flexibly so that the health and economic impact of COVID-19 can be successfully mitigated on the masses.
