The leadership of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Volta region is calling on the Ministry Of Health and other stakeholders to immediately call off the Ebola Vaccine trial in the region.
In a statement, the NDC Regional Executives described the exercise as “unfortunate” and said it is close to using them [people of the Volta Region] as “human guinea pigs.”
[contextly_sidebar id=”5duvFsIknN8S0Dst6UspgRY78uCWfQZy”]”We are not going to sit down for our people to be used as guinea pigs in a needless experiment.”
The press statement also questioned the appropriateness of conducting such an exercise in a country which has not recorded a case of the Ebola Disease.
“We want to state that Ghana has no evidence of Ebola outbreak to warrant Ebola vaccination trials. We have cases of malaria, cholera and HIV AIDS among others. We need vaccines or remedies for these diseases. Why should a country that is not threatened by Ebola, risk the lives of its citizens for an unnecessary experiment?”
Over 5,000 people in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Senegal and Nigeria has died out of the deadly disease.
The vaccine which will be administered to volunteers by an injection in the deltoid muscle of their arm, first in a lower dose, then later in a higher dose after the safety of the vaccine has been determined, is expected to grow antibodies in humans to resist the Ebola disease.
All participants in the trial would be evaluated nine times over a 48-week period and be awarded cellular phones along with GH¢200 each.
However the leadership of the ruling NDC in the Volta region appeals for the cancellation of the exercise.
“We are appealing to the Minister of Health to intervene and stop this experiment. We would be grateful if the experiment is canceled completely to prevent the use of innocent Voltarians as guinea pigs.”
–
By: King Norbert Akpablie/citifmonline.com/Ghana