| Author |
 Topic  |
|
serenata
Germany
1400 Posts |
 Posted - 27 Mar 2006 : 14:58:41
|
Dave, you are absolutely right - the people in London underwent the drug testing willingly. This is not always the case in Africa. The Tenofovir tests in Nigeria, for example: Until the Nigerian government stopped them, Family Health International had tested the AIDS medicament Tenofovir for the US company Gilead Siences on 400 Nigerian prostitutes who thought it was a vaccination. 'Le monde diplomatique' (www.monde-diplomatique.de) had an interesting article about the topic on 10th June 2005; maybe it is also in the UK issue www.MondeDiplo.com. 'Le monde diplomatique' writes that the number of privately or publicly financed US medicament tests outside the USA rose from 271 in 1990 to 4.458 in 1999. And it writes that "medical or pharmaceutical regulations in Africa, if existent, are dating from colonial times and are outdated or inadequate" - a bonanza for the pharmaceutical industry.
Meanwhile it is much easier to keep a hedgehog free of fleas than to keep public organisations (like MRC) uninfluenced by commercial interests. MRC has an impressing list of ethic publications, but I don't know if one should take what is written there too serious. Ethics and profit have always been enemies... |
 |
|
|
kondorong
Gambia
4380 Posts |
Posted - 27 Mar 2006 : 19:43:58
|
Serenat
This is what i am trying to tell readers. We need to scrutinise MRC. They have been in the Gambia for 50 years now and i am not aware of any serious attempts to audit them and yet big pharmaceuticals have research programmes there. There are over one hundred projects in MRC and i tell you not many people there know what is going on. The so called west Africans is a myth.
|
“When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love have always won. There have been tyrants and murderers, and for a time, they can seem invincible, but in the end, they always fall. Think of it--always.” |
|
|
|
serenata
Germany
1400 Posts |
Posted - 27 Mar 2006 : 20:44:52
|
quote:
Originally posted by kondorong
Serenat
This is what i am trying to tell readers. We need to scrutinise MRC. They have been in the Gambia for 50 years now and i am not aware of any serious attempts to audit them and yet big pharmaceuticals have research programmes there. There are over one hundred projects in MRC and i tell you not many people there know what is going on. The so called west Africans is a myth.
50 years.. a very long time, and I did not know that; after all, I did not know too much about MRC. I am learning a lot here in the Bantaba - a good occasion to say thank you to you all and to Momodou! |
|
|
|
dave
Ireland
89 Posts |
Posted - 30 Mar 2006 : 20:18:37
|
quote:
Originally posted by serenata
Dave, you are absolutely right - the people in London underwent the drug testing willingly. This is not always the case in Africa. The Tenofovir tests in Nigeria, for example: Until the Nigerian government stopped them, Family Health International had tested the AIDS medicament Tenofovir for the US company Gilead Siences on 400 Nigerian prostitutes who thought it was a vaccination. 'Le monde diplomatique' (www.monde-diplomatique.de) had an interesting article about the topic on 10th June 2005; maybe it is also in the UK issue www.MondeDiplo.com. 'Le monde diplomatique' writes that the number of privately or publicly financed US medicament tests outside the USA rose from 271 in 1990 to 4.458 in 1999. And it writes that "medical or pharmaceutical regulations in Africa, if existent, are dating from colonial times and are outdated or inadequate" - a bonanza for the pharmaceutical industry. Does anyone know if this applies to MRC??. Meanwhile it is much easier to keep a hedgehog free of fleas than to keep public organisations (like MRC) uninfluenced by commercial interests. MRC has an impressing list of ethic publications, but I don't know if one should take what is written there too serious. Ethics and profit have always been enemies...Do MRC make a profit and if so why???. Who owns MRC. Can anyone enlighten me please??
Its an interesting discussion, thanks to all
|
|
|
|
kondorong
Gambia
4380 Posts |
Posted - 30 Mar 2006 : 21:08:32
|
MRC is owned by the British Government and the one in the gambia is an off shoot the parent MRC (UK). London shool for hygiene and tropical medicine has a lot of its reserch personnel doing work there and in UK. Big companies are also there like GlaxoSmithkline. The gates foundation is doing research on malaria in Farafenni. They are out for "profit" as they do research for some companies who have found them easier than to hire their own staff. The british tax payer puts money in MRC also but i think we still need to check them because they are seriously only in the Gambia outside the UK. There must be a reason for this. They had small office in south east asia and one in Kenya or uganda but i think they have closed or scaled to almost nothing.
Gambia is their darling. The big drug companies need to send back some help to Gambians who have voluntererd as Guinea pigs in the form of assistance to the University. i know they have a clinic in the research facility where gambians go but do pay some money for the care. The clinic isnot comparable to the billions of dollars of benefit to big companies.We need more social projects and radical training of local gambian staff to head research programmes rather than as field workers.
It is good news that the Director in the Gambia is now a Gambian. |
“When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love have always won. There have been tyrants and murderers, and for a time, they can seem invincible, but in the end, they always fall. Think of it--always.” |
|
|
|
njucks
Gambia
1131 Posts |
Posted - 30 Mar 2006 : 22:04:15
|
''....There are over one hundred projects in MRC and i tell you not many people there know what is going on. The so called west Africans is a myth''
kondorong what an extraordinary statement.i know when you take office you will shut MRC down . but seriously lets face the facts, gambians are not stupid,ok. there is no myth and there are west africans working there you know that. secondly the current Head of MRC gambia is a distinguished gambian researcher and to say programs are being conducted without his knowledge is just disappointing. as africans we are always harsh on ourselves.
MRC itself is subject to the US FDA and all the watch dogs in the UK including countless parliamentary sub-commitees on health,ethic,development etc. in the gambia where the government has the final say, there are also ethic committees etc. any company that wants to sell any drug would be stupid to create a PR problem for itself? it takes years just to approve drug trials anywhere in the world not just in gambia.
you will not know how important MRC gambia is until you subscribe to scientific/medical journals, then trust me you will be proud to be gambian! alot of what we know about malaria came from there.
another contributor mentioned we ask for help from our more 'advanced' neighbour Senegal. but thats exactly the point. Senegal is ahead because it has countless MRCs there cooperating with them. just take a simple thing like DNA test on a blood sample, perhaps without the MRC you will have to take it to UK for some results!!!
i am proud to submit for your information the website below which gives a brief history and work of MRC Fajara Labs.
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/africa/gambia23.shtml
and i quote '' But of more interest to the Gambians than the advancement of science are the public health advances that stemmed from working with the MRC. More than 90 percent of Gambia's children are immunized against the six basic childhood diseases -- measles, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, tuberculosis -- as well as yellow fever. That's slightly better than the U.S. average''
i can votch for this as i have been to many countries in the sub- region. in Mali for example you will see children less than 10/15 cripling with polio in 2006!!! same for rural Senegal too. even in my generation let alone younger gambians its difficult to see polio or hear about measles etc in gambia today.
furthermore you will read that it is a gambian that is in charge of their Hepatitis B. you only have to stand outside the MRC gates to see the thousand mothers taking their children for clinical services. if you know the area well you will know that behind MRC is the local Bakau Health Centre but these mothers made their choice for reasons best know to them.
i also know that they have a Diploma program with Westminster University for gambia medical technician.
perhaps you're watching too much X-files,  . there is no conspiracy or secret programs. no body has died in 50yrs from any disease or health problem otherwise there would be an epidemic, lol
perhaps you also think ITC is contaminating the gene pools of local Cows (Ndama) by cross breeding them with high milking european breeds or introducing GM Cows |
Edited by - njucks on 30 Mar 2006 22:05:39 |
|
|
|
kondorong
Gambia
4380 Posts |
Posted - 30 Mar 2006 : 22:35:18
|
Njuck
I am just a concerned gambian who is jealous in protecting my people. medical reserach has always been married to foul play and i have seen a lot od documentaries. You are right i have watched a lot of ex-files that i get paranoid these days (laugh)
No i will not close them if i am convinced we are not guinea pigs for big business. yeah the Diploma programme started sometime in 2002 or 2003. i must say they were forced to recognise this after 50 years. Field officeres stagnated in one place and you have to give creidt to Mr jalow the staff union chairman. he is a firebrand. i will make him vice president. he does not compromise his principles of fair play.
His trademark is a very long bearded and unfortunately i do not have any. Laugh
Point of correction, MRC is not supplying the measles drugs or the polio drugs and are not responsible for 90% children being innoculated. I think that is stretching the truth too far. The site is giving too much credit to them. You see they now have a communicatons manager for the first time and they are trying to improve their image in the gambia which is generally very bad. Mr. Dacosta (correct me) who is a British national but with gambian ties was appointed to put a gambian face to the cause. The management knows this. this is priviledge information for your research about MRC.
By the way Njuks i hope Sanfofa has not given you MRC magic water.? LAUGH.. It is long overdue for a gambian to head the institution. We have sacrificed a lot for MRC and i appreciated the development in the LAST TWO YEARS. Dr Corrah is a fine gentle man but has an uphill battle to put a gambian face to the institution especially those in the international category. MRC knows about this and in some countries, they were required to have atleast 20% of interantional positions being manned by locals. If they cannot find them locally then they should train them. We need technology transfer and not consumers. ADD VALUE PLEASE.
I have no axe to grind but i do not trust big business doing reseacrh in poor under developed countries. You can not rest on your laurels. They ahve for along time not come under the microscope of the Gambian people. May be we should and a good reason to do so. Just as Karl max said "UMNIBUS DUBITANDUM" Doubt everything. It is sometime good to be a doubting Thomas. |
“When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love have always won. There have been tyrants and murderers, and for a time, they can seem invincible, but in the end, they always fall. Think of it--always.” |
Edited by - kondorong on 30 Mar 2006 22:56:54 |
|
|
|
Janyanfara
Tanzania
1350 Posts |
Posted - 30 Mar 2006 : 23:39:03
|
Medical researches are good so long as people consent to it on their own understanding of it and I just think there should be public awareness of the way some diseases can be prevented as GRTS used to do(Thanks to Yaya).I also like the AIDS programmes they used to put into drama for all the tribes which is good.You see some elements in the administration are dedicated citizens.Only problem is Junkung himself.He wants to see everybody bows to him.I coate from one of his speaches..."IF ANY CIVIL SERVANT DON'T LIKE MY GOVERNMENT YOU SHOULD BE FIRED TO WAIT FOR THE GOVERNMENT YOU LIKE"
Think of that how can every civil servant support a government?
I keep telling you people this Man's brain turned anti clockwise when he starts thinking he's got super natural powers.
Mankajang Janyanfara |
Edited by - Janyanfara on 30 Mar 2006 23:39:30 |
|
|
|
kondorong
Gambia
4380 Posts |
Posted - 30 Mar 2006 : 23:40:57
|
| Be careful Sankofa is around |
“When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love have always won. There have been tyrants and murderers, and for a time, they can seem invincible, but in the end, they always fall. Think of it--always.” |
|
|
|
taalibeh
Gambia
336 Posts |
Posted - 31 Mar 2006 : 01:27:57
|
Janyanfara, this is excatly one of the reasons why I think the guy is not fit to be a president. He has to understand that not the whole of the country voted for him but he has to govern for everyone. Both opposition and supporters collective pays for his living.
I have never seen someone who lacks the basic abilities to speak sense like jammeh. I cannot listen to his speeches anymore because even when I am listening to his tapes alone I feel so embrassed that I have stopped trying to listen to him. |
Taalibeh |
|
|
|
gambiabev
United Kingdom
3091 Posts |
Posted - 02 Apr 2006 : 20:30:26
|
| njucks....I agree with you 100%. The immunisation programme in Gambia is fantastic and making a real difference to life expectancy and quality of life...... It is a credit to Gambian Health workers that so many mothers are taking this up for their children. Aside from the politics of drugs companies and drugs trials THIS is the issue that will change the lives of more and more families for the better. I say WELL DONE to everyone involved in this initiative. |
|
|
|
Topic |
|
Topic Locked
