Testing vaccines in Africa? Uproar and apologies after controversial interview

Camille Locht and Jean-Paul Mira, respectively Inserm researcher and head of department at Cochin hospital in Paris, apologized on Friday April 3, after strongly criticized comments made on the French news channel LCI, in which they wondered about the advisability of testing a vaccine in Africa against the coronavirus.

In this sequence broadcast on Wednesday afternoon, Camille Locht, research director at Inserm in Lille, was asked about research carried out around the BCG vaccine against Covid-19.

In 2020 in France, we quietly talk about @LCI to use #Africans like “lab rats”, are associated with #sida and #prostitution! Disgusting. To condemn. #Racism. A reaction: @olivierveran @VidalFrederique @csaudiovisuel @Inserm @HopitalCochin? # COVID19 pic.twitter.com/q7hfvcByCp

Invited on stage, Jean-Paul Mira, head of the intensive care and intensive care unit at Cochin hospital, asked him: "If I can be provocative, shouldn't this study be done in Africa, where there are no masks, no treatment, no resuscitation, a bit like it has been done in some studies with AIDS, among prostitutes: we try things because we know that 'they are highly exposed. What do you think?'

The researcher replied: "You are right, by the way. We are thinking in parallel to a study in Africa with the same type of approach, that does not prevent us from thinking in parallel to a study in Europe and Australia ".

From SOS Racisme to Didier Drogba, a collective indignation

"No, Africans are not guinea pigs!", The SOS Racisme association was then indignant in a press release, denouncing "towards black bodies a contempt" and the comparison with AIDS and prostitutes "problematic "and" unwelcome ".

No, Africans are not guinea pigs! https://t.co/6XJ4DAl0Om

The CSA, the audiovisual regulatory authority in France, confirmed to AFP that it had been contacted by the association.

Ivorian football star Didier Drogba also reacted strongly on social networks: "It is inconceivable that we continue to accept this. Africa is not a laboratory. I strongly denounce these serious, racist and contemptuous words!" , said the former Chelsea and Marseille striker on his Facebook page and on Twitter, with a photo of the two protagonists.

Help us save lives in Africa and stop the spread of this virus which is destabilizing the whole world, instead of considering us as guinea pigs. It is absurd!
African leaders have a responsibility to protect people from these heinous plots.

Many internet users have also expressed their anger, in France and on the African continent. The Club of lawyers in Morocco has announced on its Facebook page its intention to "file a complaint for racial defamation".

• Following racist remarks made on @LCI by Pr Jean-Paul Mira, The Club of Lawyers in Morocco has decided to file a complaint for racial defamation with the Prosecutor of the French Republic.

The complaint will be filed by Me Mourad Elajouti and Me Saïd Maâch. pic.twitter.com/4UfsshdsOI

Apologies, no sanctions.

Contacted by AFP, LCI, which is part of the TF1 group, did not comment and referred to the responses from Inserm and Jean-Paul Mira.

Inserm replied that "a truncated video was the subject of misinterpretation on social networks". Recalling that the tests would be launched in several European countries and in Australia, the Institute indicated on Twitter that "Africa must not be forgotten or excluded from research, because the pandemic is global".

In a message sent to AFP, Inserm clarified that "the conditions in which this interview was conducted did not allow (Camille Locht) to react correctly, he apologizes and wishes to specify that he made no racist comments. "

In a press release from the AP-HP, Jean-Paul Mira offered his "sincere apologies" to "those who were struck, shocked, who felt insulted by words awkwardly pronounced on LCI this week ".

"Since yesterday, he and his family have suffered repeated and very worrying death threats. He has been forced to file a complaint" for "death threats" on medical staff and "malicious phone calls", said his lawyers, Me Gabriel Dumenil and Marc Bailly.

For its part, the AP-HP "takes note of these regrets and condemns any position which, rightly or wrongly, could be interpreted as derogatory vis-à-vis African countries".

With AFP

The France 24 week summary invites you to come back to the news that marked the week

Take international news everywhere with you! Download the France 24 app