MONROVIA, Liberia – Lewis Brown, Liberia’s information minister, has urged Liberians to make history in the fight against the deadly Ebola virus. Brown spoke today at the daily press briefing at the Ministry of Information Cultural Affairs and Tourism.
The minister encouraged Liberians to take pride in the fact that Liberia would make history in the international health sector if the ongoing clinical trial of the Ebola vaccine proves to be successful. He claimed that, just as Liberia led the research in finding a cure for hepatitis, the country can also contribute to the search for Ebola’s cure.
In response to concerns raised about Liberians being used as guinea pigs for untested vaccines and drugs, Brown noted that Liberians would not be the first. He recounted that other countries and their citizens have taken risks in the past and succeeded in finding cures to many illnesses. He urged Liberians to see the need to help the world in achieving this medical breakthrough. He said Liberia is on the record for always making history and should not be afraid to set another world record.
Liberia was selected by the World Health Organization for the clinical trial of a vaccine to prevent contraction of the deadly Ebola virus. The current outbreak in West Arica began in Guinea in late 2013 and later spread to Liberia, Sierra Leone and some parts of Nigeria. The outbreak intensified its spread between July and September 2014 which triggered the decision by the WHO to push for vaccine trials, given each recipient signs a waiver.
Featured image courtesy of MICAT
