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A28 WORLD NEWS
Thursday 2 July 2020
Protest versus Africa’s 1st COVID-19 vaccine test shows fear

By CARA ANNA said in a statement. "These
Associated Press principles will be guided by
JOHANNESBURG (AP) — respect for the dignity of
Protesters against Africa's Africans, the beneficence
first COVID-19 vaccine trial and non-maleficence, and
burned their face masks justice."
Wednesday as experts Madhi, the professor in
note a worrying level of charge of the South Af-
resistance and misinforma- rica vaccine trial, has said
tion around testing on the volunteers were given an
continent. Anti-vaccine explanation about the trial
sentiment in Africa is "the and possible risks and then
worst I've ever seen," the had to score 80% on a
CEO of the GAVI vaccine questionnaire to take part.
alliance, Seth Berkley, told But why not target more af-
an African Union vaccine fluent parts of South African
conference last week. society? Phasha asked.
"In general, people in Af- "I believe in science," she
rica know the diseases said. "And I believe that
and want to protect each science has managed to
other," he said. "In this case, solve most of the problems
the rumor mill has been People protest against Coronavirus vaccine trials in Africa, outside the University of the society is faced with. I'm
dramatic." Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa, Wednesday, July 1, 2020. not against vaccinations,
The trial that began last Associated Press I'm against profiteering."
week in Johannesburg is testing drugs on people ments, no resuscitation?" the World Health Organi- Fellow protesters sang and
part of one already under- who don't understand the He compared it to some zation, Tedros Adhanom danced with banners say-
way in Britain of the vaccine risks. "The people chosen as AIDS studies: "In prostitutes, Ghebreyesus, called the ing "We not guinea pigs"
developed at the University volunteers for the vaccina- we try things because we comments "racist" and a and "No safe vaccine."
of Oxford. Some 2,000 vol- tion, they look as if they're know that they are highly "hangover from a colonial "If you want to test, test in
unteers in South Africa are from poor backgrounds, exposed and that they do mentality." The head of the the areas which they call
expected to take part. not qualified enough to un- not protect themselves." Africa Centers for Disease the epicenter of the world,"
It's important that vaccines derstand" protest organizer "The narrative we got is Control and Prevention, demonstrator Sean Goss
be tested in Africa to see Phapano Phasha told The our continent is a dumping John Nkengasong, called said. Africa has seen trou-
how they perform in the Associated Press ahead ground," Phasha said. First the remarks "very disgust- bled testing and treatment.
local context, professor of of the event. "We believe ensure the vaccine works ing" and "condescending." Some families in Nigeria
vaccinology Shabir Madhi, they are manipulating the elsewhere before bringing "Africa CDC will continue won payouts in a legal fight
leader of the new COV- vulnerable." it to Africa, she added. to work very closely with with Pfizer after several chil-
ID-19 vaccine trial in South The activist and political The French researcher later the World Health Organi- dren died of meningitis in
Africa, told reporters and commentator brought apologized for his com- zation to ensure that only a clinical trial for an oral
others in a webinar Sunday. up the widely circulated ments, but they continue ethically and scientifically antibiotic in 1996. And ear-
But the small band of dem- remarks earlier this year to circulate on social me- sound clinical trials for vac- lier this year, South Africa's
onstrators who gathered by a French researcher, dia among those opposed cines and therapies will be Commission for Gender
Wednesday at the Univer- Jean-Paul Mira, who said, to vaccine testing in Africa, conducted in Africa, us- Equality said dozens of HIV-
sity of the Witwatersrand, ""If I can be provocative, Meanwhile, anger among ing exactly the same stan- positive women had been
where the trial is based, shouldn't we be doing this African health officials and dards and principles as forced or coerced into ster-
reflect long-running fears study in Africa, where there others was swift. those employed elsewhere ilization after giving birth at
among some in Africa over are no masks, no treat- The Ethiopian director of in the world," Nkengasong public hospitals.q
The Netherlands marks anniversary of abolition of slavery

on the Black Lives Matter ument in Amsterdam's liamentary debate, Prime
movement that swept the Oosterpark was deco- Minister Mark Rutte said he
globe in the aftermath of rated for Wednesday's did not consider the time
the death of George Floyd observance with black right to apologize for the
in Minneapolis. and red cloths, colors of country's role in slavery,
Protesters in the Nether- mourning in West Africa. despite calls for a formal
lands have vandalized The government used the apology."For some people
several statues of historic day to announce plans that goes too far. Can you
figures linked to the slave for a nationwide dialogue hold people alive today
trade and called for such to confront the country's responsible for the distant
statues to be removed. historic links to slavery. past?" Rutte said in com-
A statue of the Dutch Golden Age trader and brutal colonialist From the 17th century un- The dialogue will focus on ments aired by national
Jan Pieterszoon Coen stands tall above a square in his
hometown of Hoorn, north of Amsterdam, Netherlands, Friday, til the abolition of slavery "how the slavery history still broadcaster NOS. Amster-
June 19, 20202. in 1863, Dutch merchants influences our daily lives," dam Mayor Femke Hal-
Associated Press and ships were heavily Education Minister Ingrid sema said the Black Lives
involved in slave-trading, van Engelshoven said. Matter movement had
THE HAGUE, Netherlands slavery on July 1, 1863, and plantation owners in "I hope that it will open brought about a tipping
(AP) — The Netherlands with a solemn event in Dutch colonies in the Ca- the eyes of many Dutch point and created "an un-
marked 157 years since Amsterdam on Wednes- ribbean used slave labor. people, young and old." stoppable new people's
the country abolished day that also reflected The national slavery mon- Later Wednesday in a par- movement." q