Ebola Trial Not Harmful--WHO Allays Fears

The World Health Organization (WHO) is assuring that the proposed Ebola vaccine trials will not put any Ghanaian at risk of contracting the virus.

WHO argues that regardless of the urgency for the trial to be conducted, the needed safety standards will not be overlooked.

There has been a massive opposition to the trial which compelled the Ministry of Health to suspend the entire exercise.

The sector Minister was subsequently summoned before Parliament to throw more light on the issue.

Meanwhile, speaking at a sensitization forum organized by the ministry, the WHO representative in Ghana, Dr Magdal Robalo insisted that there will not be any wrong doing under their watch.

“Finding a vaccine against Ebola is an ethical imperative. Despite the urgent need for an Ebola vaccine, safety remains of paramount importance. WHO will not be sitting here in Ghana and seeing that the safety of Ghanaians is being put at risk and keep quit,” she added.

She said because WHO is concerned about the exercise, it has followed with keen interest the heated discussions the matter has generated in the country.

For his part, the leader of the Ebola clinical investigating team, Professor Fred Binka, explained how Hohoe and Kintampo were selected to undergo the study.

“I think this is very important, because even some senior colleagues think that these things are shared, no, its by competition, and its not good to release all those who competed in the bid.”

He explained that Kintampo and Hohoe were selected to undertake the exercise after going through a competitive process adding that “there were many other sites in Ghana who were willing to undertake this study.”

“So it was through competition and through the sponsors own discretion and looking at those who are involved and the facilities that are there.”