Akinwumi Adesina, president of the African Development Bank
(AfDB), has advised world leaders not to label or penalise African nations for
new COVID-19 variants and mutations happening across the world.
Adesina, one of the strong advocates of equity in vaccine
distribution, said this in a series of tweets on Sunday in the wake of the new
COVID-19 variant spreading and causing panic.
On Thursday, South Africa’s National Institute for
Communicable Diseases (NICD) announced the discovery of the new variant of
coronavirus, known as B.1.1.529. The World Health Organisation (WHO) later
tagged it “Omicron” and designated it a ‘variant of concern’ (VOC) because of
its “concerning” number of mutations.
Scientists had said the new Omicron could evade the body’s immune response, making it more transmissible.
Apart from South Africa, the new variant has been detected
in Belgium, Botswana, Israel, United Kingdom, and Hong Kong. Since the
discovery, many nations have rushed to place travel restrictions on South
Africa and other countries in the region.
He said Africa is not the source of the COVID-19 pandemic
and should not be penalised for new variants, urging for global justice,
equity, and fairness in access to vaccines.
“Africa should not be labelled and penalized for COVID-19
variants and mutations that occur randomly elsewhere in the world. Africa is
not the source of COVID-19,” he tweeted.
“There must be global
justice, equity & fairness in access to vaccines. Global vaccine supply
system has underserved Africa. Protecting one’s home alone in the midst of a
forest fire does not work. Put out the forest fire.
“Africa must accelerate the manufacturing of its own
vaccines & set up its own “healthcare security defence system”. Africa must
no longer outsource health security of its 1.8 billion people to the
benevolence of others.”
On Saturday, South Africa also said it was being punished
for its advanced ability to detect new COVID-19 variants. The African nation
said the travel bans and restrictions imposed would affect its economy.
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