Hollywood star actor, John Boyega has blasted the two French doctors who were earlier in the week accused of racism.
The French medical practitioners were on Wednesday, April 1, 2020, caught on live TV programme suggesting that a potential vaccine for the dreaded coronavirus be first tested on people in Africa.
EELive understands that the doctors have since been a subject of discussion after their comments on the forum.
It is pertinent to note that the forum was aired to debate the coronavirus trials set to be launched in Europe and Australia, in order to see if the BCG tuberculosis vaccine could be used to treat the infectious disease.
Jean-Paul Mira, Head of Intensive Care Unit at Cochin Hospital in Paris, said; “It may be provocative.”
He further questioned, “Should we not do this study in Africa where there are no masks, no treatment or intensive care, a little bit like it’s been done for certain AIDS studies, where among prostitutes, we try things, because we know that they are highly exposed and don’t protect themselves?”
Nodding to Mira’s comment, Camille Locht, the Research Director at France’s National Health Institute, said; “You are right. And by the way, we are thinking of in parallel about a study in Africa using this same approach.”
Reacting to the racism comments, Boyega, in a Twitter post, said Africa isn’t a testing lab.
See his post below:
The racist comments made on the live TV programme, had however generated controversy among Africans at large.
Amongst the many Africans who expressed their rage to the statements was football legend, Didier Drogba.
The retired footballer, who used to play for Chelsea, wrote on Twitter; “Africa isn’t a testing lab. I would like to vividly denounce those demeaning, false and most of all deeply racist words.”
Since Africans have kicked against the comments, where will the potential vaccine for coronavirus eventually be tested?