Football legends Drogba and Eto’o slam ‘Covid-19 test trials on Africans’
African football legends Didier Drogba and Samuel Eto'o have condemned comments by two French doctors who said the coronavirus vaccine should first be tested in Africa.
Dr Jean-Paul Mira and Dr Camille Locht made the comments during a TV discussion about medical trials for a Covid-19 vaccine on French TV channel LCI on 1 April.
READ: FIFA’s Infantino says ‘nobody knows’ when football can resume
Responding to the comments on his Twitter account, said that the suggestion by these doctors was taking “African people as human guinea pigs”.
The former Chelsea star added in another tweet: “Africa isn’t a testing lab.”
“It is inconceivable that we continue to accept this. Africa is not a laboratory,” said Drogba.
“I strongly denounce these serious, racist and contemptuous remarks!
“Help us save lives in Africa and stop the spread of this virus which is destabilising the whole world, instead of considering ourselves as guinea pigs.
“It’s absurd! African leaders have a responsibility to protect people from these heinous plots.”
Eto’o called the doctors “assassins”.
The doctors’ comments were also criticised by anti-racist groups and many others commenting online.
It is totally inconceivable we keep on cautioning this.
Africa isn’t a testing lab.
I would like to vividly denounce those demeaning, false and most of all deeply racists words.Helps us save Africa with the current ongoing Covid 19 and flatten the curve. pic.twitter.com/41GIpXaIYv
— Didier Drogba (@didierdrogba) April 2, 2020
Let us save ourselves from this crazy virus that is plummeting the world economy and ravaging populations health worldwide.
Do not take African people as human guinnea pigs! It’s absolutely disgusting…— Didier Drogba (@didierdrogba) April 2, 2020
For more news your way, download The Citizen’s app for iOS and Android.
For more news your way
Download our app and read this and other great stories on the move. Available for Android and iOS.
