BE WARNED! NEW DRUG TRIALS

BE WARNED! NEW DRUG TRIALS
TO DAILY GRAPHIC

Dear Editor, I would be very pleased if you find space in your esteemed newspaper to publish this article.

Where do African governments and their ministries of health continually open the arms in the popular “awa awa atuu” fashion to offer their citizens for the trials of newly manufactured drugs from the western world?

I was listening to the evening news bulletin on the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation on Saturday evening July 18, 2009 when the news said there will soon be the trial of a new malaria drug on African soil through some 17 health research centres. Is our dear Ghana included? That was my first concern.

On this particular issue of testing the potency of new drugs on Africans, I have more questions than answers. Why don’t the pharmaceutical companies test their new drugs on citizens of their respective countries where they operate? Do our African governments do laboratory test and investigations to ascertain the side effects of these new drugs before allowing for the trials?

Are you aware that Africans are commonly referred to as “African guinea pigs” by those western pharmaceutical companies who get to use Africans through cash influence on authorities?

The testing of new drugs often has grave side effects on the health of people who are used. I remember a couple of years back when some states in Nigeria protested against the vaccination of their children on polio citing serious concerns.

Also, I learnt the Navrongo Health Research Centre a few years ago recorded unpalatable results when it tried a lymphatic filiriasis drug on sample of people. Subsequently, some adjustments had to be made.

Big advice is Ghana should be very very cautious with the acceptance of these trials on its already vulnerable citizens.

Peter Atogewe Wedam
Journalsit, Information Services Department
Gambaga

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