The Minister of Health Alex Segbefia has punched holes in suggestions the Ebola vaccine trial in Hohoe in the Volta Region had adverse effects that could pose serious threats to the survival of the volunteers.
Segbefia told Parliament today the exercise cannot in any way lead to an outbreak, adding previous tests have been conducted in accordance with international best practices.
Ghana he added had the capacity to contribute to international efforts at finding a lasting solution to the Ebola virus.
“Mr. Speaker, I believe Ghana has the intellectual capacity, infrastructure and track record to support such a clinical trial – with demonstrable strength in governance institutions like this august house and the Ministry of Health, regulatory mechanisms like the FDA, and implementation and research – with numerous health research centers throughout the country.
Mr Speaker, for every clinical trial, there are potential risks, so we have to take that into account and make every effort to identify the risks early and abort the trial if need be. That is why the FDA has put in place extra measures, over and above the usual measures they employ, to make sure that in the event that this trial is to proceed, things do not get out of hand.
Mr. Speaker, it is clear from the debate in this august house and from reactions from Ghanaians as a whole, that there is some misunderstanding about the trial, the dangers it poses and its benefits to Ghana and the rest of the world. Ebola evokes fear, and discussions about the disease are emotive. Clearly, Ghanaians in general and the communities within which the trials have been planned were not sufficiently consulted and briefed about the trial. In order for this to be corrected, I am proposing the following steps”
He also shot down claims volunteers of the trail were being paid 200 cedis and given mobile phones.
“And let me further state that no volunteers have been recruited for any of the proposed trials. It therefore cannot be true that people have been given GHc200 and mobile phones. Indeed the selection of volunteers in itself is a very rigorous process with a long drawn out protocol and safeguards.”
The Oncho Research Center at Hohoe was started in 1986 by the World Health Organization.
In the last three decades over 30 clinical trials including phase l, phase ll and phase lll studies of oncho drugs, malaria drugs and others have been conducted at the Centre.
By: Kasapafmonline.com/Ghana
