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Promoting Bioethics in Africa

Report on the First Days of Bioethicsfor West and Central Africa

What Ethics for Research in Africa?

Dakar, Senegal, 11 to 13 July 2005

Promoting Bioethics in Africa - Report on the First Days of Bioethics, West & Central Africa

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[Abridged version, original in French]

Acknowledgements

The Organizing Committee wishes to thank all the organisationsand institutions who made the organization of these First Days andthe publication of this document possible:

Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie International Development Research Center Development Research Institute Pasteur Institute: Paris and Dakar Ministry of Scientific Research Ministry of Health and Medical Prevention French Ministry of Foreign Affairs Networking on Ethics and Biomedical Research in Africa World Health Organization United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural

Organization “Law, Ethics, Health” Senegalese Network Cheikh Anta Diop University, Dakar, Senegal Gaston Berger University, Saint-Louis, Senegal

Editorial Board: Mamadou Badji, Carrie Marias,Fidèle Nzé-Nguéma, Samba Cor Sarr and Aïssatou Touré

coordinated by Charles Becker

English translation: Mamadou Kandji and Carrie Marias

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Table of Contents

Acknowledgements 2Table of Contents 3Final Report 4Proposals for an Action Plan. Follow up of the First Days

on Bioethics for West and Central Africa 11Dakar Declaration on Ethics and Bioethics 14Background Document 16Programme 18Speeches made at the opening 23

• Speech by Mr. Abdou Fall, Minister of Health andMedical Prevention 23

• Speech by Mrs. Aïssatou Touré 25• Speech by Dr. Malang Coly on behalf of Dr.

Yankalbé, WHO, Dakar 27• Speech by M. Pierre Sané, UNESCO, Paris 29• Speech by Mrs. Carrie Marias, UNESCO, Dakar 31• Speech by Mr. Moussa Samb, IDRC, Dakar 32• Speech by Mr. Isaac Yankhoba Ndiaye, Cheikh Anta

Diop University of Dakar 33List of participants in The First Days 35

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Final Report 1

Ethical questioning in relation to health research is carried outaccording to Professor François Hirsch 2, “both in a context which iswell equipped with means and competence and in a context which is,in many ways, dispossessed and yet resolute in its volition to makeavailable possibilities to envision significant breakthroughs inbiomedical research”.

That is why specialists in health sciences, social and humansciences, from West and Central Africa, as well as their colleaguesfrom the North came together during the First Days of Bioethicsorganized in Dakar from 11 to 13 July 2005 to reflect on fundamentaland practical issues at stake in the area of ethics of health research andbioethics.

The analyses made during this meeting took into account thecurrent weakness of debates on ethical issues on a continent and incountries marked by huge economic, social challenges, especially inthe field of health.

At a time when questions about screening and conductingbiomedical research (therapy and vaccine trials), health care practices,access to medical treatment have given rise to questioning anddebates, and in turn have brought about some changes in health

1 This Report was made under the supervision of Professor Mamadou Badji, Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Law and Political Sciences, Cheikh Anta Diop University,Dakar, with the assistance of the Organizing Committee members and all theRapporteurs whose names are listed in the appendix, especially M. Fidèle Nze-Nguéma, who was in charge of writing the Dakar Declaration.2 F. Hirsch, Foreword, in Éthique de la recherche et des soins dans les pays endéveloppement (under the supervision of F. et E. Hirsch), Paris, Vuibert, 2004, p. 9.


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codification in countries of the North, there is not yet adequatereflection nor a strong enough social movement which could confrontsome of the challenges raised in these areas and help mobilize morepolitical commitment to translate into practice the right to healthwhich is inscribed in most African constitutions. However a greatdeal of biomedical and health research is being undertaken in Africatoday, even though debates on the ethics of research remaininadequate and ethics committees do not yet possess the capacity toeffectively protect human beings.

Scientific meetings on bioethics issues in Africa are still rareand are held mainly in English-speaking African countries. Thereinlay the urgency and pertinence to hold this first sub-regional meetingon emerging issues of ethics and bioethics which brought togetherspecialists in different disciplines from twenty West and CentralAfrican countries. These Days served as an occasion to initiatedebates on some key issues on bioethics for the African continent, toshare information with academics from West and Central Africa andEurope as well as other social actors including educators, actors in thearea of health, NGO’s and others.

During the opening ceremony Mrs. Aïssatou Touré welcomedall participants on behalf of the Organizing Committee and thankedthe Ministry of Health and Medical Prevention and the Ministry ofScientific Resarch from Senegal as well as the other organizations andpartners who provided a contribution to the organization of themeeting. Professor Issaac Yankhoba Ndiaye, Vice President of theAssembly of the University of Cheikh Anta Diop and representing theRector, Mr. Moussa Samb (IDRC), Ms. Carrie Marias (UNESCO) andDr. Malang Coly (WHO) underlined the importance theirorganizations accorded to bioethics, and the role of the meeting instimulating reflection on the challenges the continent faced with rapidadvances in science.

Mr. Abdou Fall, Minister of Health and Medical Prevention ofSenegal, emphasized his country’s interest in elaborating legislativeand statutory frameworks for protection of human subjects inscientific research. He noted his country’s commitment to set up andstrengthen ethical and bioethical bodies, and the full support of thenational authorities of his country to meet the objectives of the First


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Days of Bioethics for West and Central Africa. He then formallydeclared the meeting open.

Nine papers were presented. All speakers shared theirexperiences on ethics in specific contexts, some of the problemsencountered, questions raised by contextualizing principles regardedas universal, the historical background of ethical bodies as well asethical questionings, the role of the philosopher in the emergence ofbioethics concerns, as well as inter-relations between bioethics andlaw.

The first day concluded with a Public Lecture by SenatorClaude Huriet from France outlining the universal relevance ofbioethics, seventeen years after putting into place a body of legislationconcerning bioethical issues in France.

The first session of the second day of the meeting was devotedto the presentation and discussions about the draft UniversalDeclaration on Bioethics and Human Rights. Mr. Pierre Sané,UNESCO Assistant Director General for Social and Human Sciences,Mr. Pablo Sader, Chairperson of the Intergovernmental ExpertsCommittee to examine the draft Declaration on Bioethics and HumanRights , and Mr. Ousmane Blondin Diop, Minister Adviser andPermanent Deputy of Senegal to UNESCO, presented the draftUNESCO Declaration. During discussions, the relatively weakparticipation of Africa in the process of elaborating this internationalinstrument was observed. Participants urged that information on theDeclaration be widely disseminated in countries of the South and thataction be taken to make it known and help to operationalise it throughinitiatives in West and Central African countries.

The meeting broke up into working groups and thenreconvened in plenary session to share results of discussions on therole and place of ethical committees on health research in the sub-regional context. Debates gave opportunities to discuss the tasks of thecommittees in view of the protection of human subjects, to makeproposals on how to establish and strengthen ethical bodies, as well asto propose activities for the exchange of experiences and reinforcingthe capacity of various actors.

In addition participants drafted up a solemn Declaration, theDakar Declaration on Ethics and Bioethics – calling for the need to


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develop bodies for ethical reflection and action in West and CentralAfrica. The Declaration also affirms the urgency to developpluridisciplinary training, to create and to reinforce ethics committeesas well as to promote sub-regional exchanges so that Africanparticipation in major debates concerning the protection of humanbeings, ethics and bioethics will be enhanced.

The meeting was characterized by an exceptional spirit ofpartnership which facilitated the organization of this manifestationwhose scientific objectives were ambitious and which likewise aimedat encouraging concrete initiatives and reinforcing ethical reflection.The synergy of partnerships for organizing the First Days of Bioethicsin West and Africa included the participation of the Ministries ofHealth and Medical Prevention and of Scientific Research of Senegal,the Universities of Dakar and Saint Louis, UNESCO, WHO, IDRC,the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of France, the Agence Universitaire dela Francophonie (AUF), the NEBRA Network, and research institutesin Senegal (IRD, IPD).

These Days corresponded to the priorities set by the twoparticipating Ministries of Senegal wishing to reinforce ethical bodiesin the country while taking an active part in African reflection in thisarea and were also in line with the programme of work of theSenegalese Network “Law, Ethics, Health” and the AUF Network onthe Right to Health.

The First Bioethics Days served as the occasion for theexchange of information on current developments in ethics andbioethics, to develop collective reflection on these issues, and toconsider means to exchange information at sub-regional andinternational levels.

During the course of the meeting, participants asked questionsabout fundamental problems: such as what should we expect from thispluridisciplinary thinking on research ethics on health and whichspecific role should be played by specialists in various scientificdisciplines – especially medical doctors, biologists, philosophers,sociologists, historians, lawyers, and jurists. Aware of some of theissues at stake, participants wanted to identify their contribution andsome of the specific questions that could help define an effectiveethical framework. A few participants, especially jurists, provided aclear response. They proposed that policy makers take into account


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and include concerns around ethics and bioethics in positive law andlegislative frameworks. It was considered incumbent upon jurists tohelp give form to elements which medical doctors, philosophers,anthropologists, historians, civil society actors provided in theirreflection about ethical challenges related to research and biomedicalpractices in Africa.

Mr. François Vialla took this same approach to the questionwhile underlining its limits.. Jurists need to present proposals relatedto obligations, fears, norms. However, there was no unanimity aboutthe provisions of positive law since ethical questioning is verycomplex.

In any case ethics provides us with data, materials andexperiences for reflection, just as medicine does. Jurists must includein their proposals for reform these data on ethics and bioethics at thesame time as relevant medical data. But these are no conclusions intheir own right which could be directly suggested for legislators toadopt. This information may contribute to directions needed, but wemust go further and find the juridical consequences, i.e. the constraintsthat exist. Likewise, one may perceive, as underlined by ProfessorClaude Huriet in his conference, that some hesitations exist to acceptthe idea that ethics is the morality of society and can be a subject toteach. This lack of consensus does not mean that ethical questionsshould not be formalized in an ethical or legal framework. There isalways a common law legal framework, even if generally not adaptedto the context. We are invited to go beyond this and to make proposalswhich could led to standards, norms, a framework adapted to eachAfrican country.

Some proposals were made in this regard. From the debates itwas clear that participants wished African states to give their supportto the draft Universal Declaration on Bioethics and Human Rightspresented by UNESCO. They also wished their countries to adoptspecific national legislation that would help ensure the respect ofhuman dignity, free enlightened consent, and which take into accountthe human, social and ecological dimensions of bioethics.

Three working groups set up allowed for in-depth discussionon several topics, in particular the conditions for, types and needs forcreating and setting up committees concerned with ethics of researchon human beings, as well as ethical and normative frameworks


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required. Some discussions also centered on how to promote furtherprotection of human beings and more awareness of different actors,one means being through promoting teaching and research on ethicsand bioethics.

It was agreed that, as far as ethics committees were concerned,they should be independent and pluridisciplinary in their purposes andmembership. They are set up in response to internal and externalneeds to evaluate research planned and conducted from an ethicalperspective. They can thereby bring further national ownership ofresearch and results, more participation in the development ofresearch, within the context also of a sharing of the benefits ofresearch.

Generally speaking, ethics committees attempt to elaborate areference framework for evaluation, to put into place procedures forfollowing up and monitoring research, to consider ethical casesbrought before them, to monitor and evaluate the implementation ofresearch agreements (before, during and after), and to provideinformation on the views of the committee.

Facilitating and establishing the conditions for research shouldinclude the preparation of a manual of procedures on ethics norms tobe followed.

The question of financing ethics committees was also raised. Itwould be necessary to establish a balance between private funding(from promoters) and public finance. Even if the level of financingmay vary depending on promoters and applicants, the independence ofethics committees was considered essential.

There was unanimity on the fact that obligations andresponsibilities should be met by those concerned with the protectionof human beings and society. One means of helping to ensure thiswould be to develop university and para-university trainingprogrammes, as well as to build up awareness of communities ofethical question and of their rights.

Participants were pleased to learn of the creation of a Mastersprogramme on the Right to Health at the Faculty of Juridical andPolitical Sciences, University of Cheikh Anta Diop in Senegal. Thispostgraduate degree, with teaching modules on law, health andbioethics, is one of the first in Sub-Sahara Africa, and deals with key


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issues for African states as well as directly with the themes of the FirstDays of Bioethics.

It was noted that the teaching of the right to health and issuesof bioethics should be considered as priority areas for inclusion incurricula of African universities. Nowadays knowledge on health callsfor pluridisciplinarity with enhanced collaboration and ethicalreflection, among jurists, specialists in social and human sciences,specialists in health sciences, and other disciplines as well. It wasrecommended that ethics teaching and courses on law and ethics beincluded within the programmes of Faculties of Medicine.

Participants expressed the wish to follow up this meeting byorganising the Second Days for Bioethics in West and Central Africain 2006. Thus a sub-regional approach would be continued to bettertake into account problems posed by biomedical and other research onhuman beings.

Participants noted the urgency to put into place on thecontinent and in particular in West and Central Africa, a Forum ofreflection, dialogue and action on questions of ethics, bioethics andlife sciences. They would already lay the foundations of such anetwork to continue after the First Days by diffusing the report andresults of the meeting widely and through internet sites ofparticipating institutions. Activities of the Forum will include theorganization of various scientific meetings, of societal debates in Westand Central African countries, the reinforcement of ethical assessmentbodies and the development of training programmes on majorbioethics issues.

In conclusion we should like to stress once more theremarkable synergy in the organization of these Days – which showedthe strong commitment of many of our partners whose material, andessentially scientific support proved decisive. Such collectivecooperation anticipates new and rapid breakthroughs which will helpmeet ethical challenges in Africa, and help stop potentially harmfuleffects of the scientific research so urgently needed, and to bring to allmembers of African societies the benefits of scientific advance.

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Proposals for a Plan of ActionFollow-up of the First Days of Bioethics

for West and Central Africa

The following proposals were made from exchanges whichtook place during the First Bioethics Days. They constitutepreliminary elements for a Plan of Action concerning the Forumwhich was created during these Days and whose role is stipulated inthe Dakar Declaration.

This provisional plan was submitted to all participants andpartners to specify mid and long term actions, knowing that a fewimmediate actions have already been undertaken and have givenpositive results. The proposals for the Plan of Action will be enrichedwith gradual contributions from each and every one.

The Organizing Committee thus expects further suggestionsand comments to further elaborate the Plan and reinforce the DakarWest and Central African Forum.

Immediate follow up after the First Bioethics Days:• Publish Report and the Dakar Declaration in French and in English• Publish brochure archiving results of the Days• Finalise the CD-Rom of papers prepared for the First Days• Publish the scientific proceedings of the seminar

• Share findings, conclusions and awareness building on ethics andbioethics in various countries

• For national and local authorities, academics, teachers, thepublic at large, NGO’s

• Prepare communication tools about results of the First Daysand issues at stake

• Look at ways of diffusing results and information in relationto local contexts through diverse communication channels(press, audiovisual support, associations)

Several domains of intervention• UNESCO meetings (Intergovernmental Bioethics Committee,

IBC work session; adoption of the Universal Declaration onBioethics and Human Rights at the UNESCO GeneralConference, October 2005)


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• Medical Faculty Deans’ meeting, Bamako 5-7 September 2005• UNESCO Asian and Pacific Forum on Bioethics, Bangkok,

September 2005• PABIN meeting in Yaounde (June 2006)

Structuring and institutional development of the Ethicsand Bioethics Forum for West and Central Africa, createdduring the First Days as an exchange platform between researchersand actors involved in training programmes, the work of ethicalbodies, the dissemination of information and in internationalexchanges, liaising with international partner institutions.

Elaborate a plan to introduce pluridisciplinary training onethics and bioethics into academic curricula and professionaltraining programmes of medical and biological sciences, healthsciences, social and human sciences, technologies at the levels of:

• academic courses at the university• pre-university training• training for health care personnel• training for patients’ associations• training for community organizations, and actors involved in

the field of health

The contents of specific courses – ranging from basic trainingmodules to postdoctoral courses – are to be defined. The teaching ofethics requires pluridisciplinary competences, and training shouldinclude an articulation between ethics, deontology and the right tohealth.

Scientific meetings on ethics and bioethics for West andCentral Africa• Second Days on Bioethics, July 2006, in a West or Central African

country• Organize a Pan African Conference on Bioethics in 2007.

Dissemination of information• Develop exchanges through electronic channels• Reinforce Internet sites dissemination of information on research,

scientific manifestations, activities of Ethics Committees andBioethics Committees in Africa


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• Create an electronic and printed bulletin of exchanges• Publish documents and books of various types: handbooks, scientific

works, books• destined for a wide public, and various social actors.

Develop inter-cultural and inter-linguistic exchangesbetween English speaking, French speaking, Portuguese speaking andArab speaking scientists and other stakeholders in the fields of ethicsand bioethics

• Bilingual and multilingual scientific meetings and working groups• Translate documents on ethical issues produced in Africa• Exchange of documentation

Participate in diffusion and dissemination processes of theUniversal Declaration on Bioethics and Human Rights

• Choose appropriate places to present Declaration and other basicUNESCO texts

• Organize conferences and public debates on the Declaration in Westand Central African countries

• Set up links with associations and in particular those of associationsof patients through

— information meetings— assistance for training

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Dakar Declaration on Ethics and Bioethics13 July 2005

We, participants in the First Days of Bioethics for West and CentralAfrica, organised in Dakar, Senegal from 11 to 13 July 2005,coming from countries in West and Central Africa, Europe andLatin America,Engaged in research, teaching, health care and promotion of healthpolicies, ethics and bioethics in Africa,

Aware of the advances in life sciences and the impact of theirapplications in Africa;

Aware of the necessity to engage in appropriate reflection andto promote ethical debates and organised social movementsthat can help to deal with the issues as well as economic,social, cultural and health challenges which the continent isconfronted with;

Aware of the complexity of these questions which require amultidisciplinary and pluralistic approach;

Noting the insufficiency of ethical frameworks for the practiceof health care and carrying out research on health on thecontinent;

Considering the delay of Africa in the fundamental area ofsciences and technologies and the risk of marginalisation thatthis entails regarding decisions related to the evolution of theworld;

Considering the weight of endemic and emerging pathologies,the necessity of developing research on these diseases, andalso the risk of seeing Africa transformed into a field ofexperimentation outside of any ethical framework;

Considering the existence of double standards which constitutea lack of respect for human life and the dignity of the humanperson in Africa;


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We affirm :

The necessity to take into account the principles set forth ininternational declarations in the field of ethics, bioethics, andlife sciences, notably those elaborated by UNESCO and theInter-Parliamentary Union;

The necessity to put into place programmes of training andteaching on ethics, bioethics and the right to health in allacademic and professional programmes (health sciences, socialand human sciences, technologies);

The urgency to put into place a Forum of Reflection, Dialogue,and Action concerning questions of ethics, bioethics and lifesciences for the continent and in particular for West andCentral Africa;

The importance of the firm commitment of Africangovernments to create, support and encourage committees ofethics and bioethics in Africa in their initiatives, in particularby putting into place legal frameworks aimed at specifying theconditions for the creation and functioning of thesecommittees;

The necessity of strengthening collaboration in the areas ofethics, bioethics and life sciences, with international andregional partner institutions: the International DevelopmentResearch Centre, UNESCO, the WHO, the Inter-ParliamentaryUnion, the UN Commission on Human Rights, the AfricanUnion, the European Union, the Agence Universitaire de laFrancophonie, the World Medical Association.

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Background Document for the First DaysWhat Ethics of Research for Africa?

The idea of an experts’ meeting on bioethics in West and CentralAfrica stems from major evidence: the present day shortage of debateson ethical questions on a continent marked by huge economic andsocial challenges especially in the field of health, whereas questions ofscreening conditions, and conducting bioethical research (therapy andvaccine trials), healthcare practices and access to medicine have beenengendering fundamental debates and brought considerable evolutionin health codification in countries of the North. However, there is notyet appropriate thinking nor a sufficiently strong social movement toact on health issues and bring leaders to take more resolute politicalcommitment to put into effect health rights inscribed in most Africanconstitutions. A lot of biomedical research and health research is nowgoing on in Africa, at a time when debates on research ethics areinsufficient and ethics committees are not yet strong enough toefficiently contribute to the protection of people.

To add to this, the utilization of bio-technologies whose legalframework has grown considerably elsewhere; in Africa, the setting oflegal frameworks to promote biosecurity are mandatory and demandfundamental reflection. Assessment processes and management ofrisks for health, the environment and socio-economic welfare arenecessary as prerequisites to reinforce institutional capacities, a dataexchange system on regional and international levels, updatingknowledge and above all to promote bioethical reflection. TheUniversal Declaration on Bioethics and Human Rights, which isbeing elaborated under the auspices of UNESCO will also requireincreased participation of African scientific communities and societiesin the debates around its elaboration and subsequentoperationalisation.

This is the reason why it is more than urgent to hold a meeting onthe ethics of health research as well as on the creation, role andstrengthening of ethical committees in West and Central Africa.

At a time when scientific meetings on bioethics in Africa are stillvery rare and have been mainly held in English-speaking Africancountries, a three day scientific meeting is being convened focusedentirely on medical ethics and bioethics. These days are co-organized


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by several institutions with the help of the Senegalese Ministries ofHealth, and of Scientific Research, the Universities of Dakar andSaint-Louis, UNESCO, WHO, IDRC, the French Ministry of ForeignAffairs, AUF, NEBRA Network, research institutions based inSenegal (IRD, IPD) and other partners as well.

These Days are in conformity with priorities defined by the twoSenegalese Ministries in their resolve to reinforce ethical bodies in thecountry and in the African emerging debate on bioethics, and also arein keeping with the programme orientations of the SenegaleseNetwork on “Law, Ethics, Health” and the AUF Research Network onthe Right to Health.

The First Days on Bioethics of Dakar will aim at reinforcinginstitutional capacities and contribute to setting up a data exchangesystem at regional and international levels, help update knowledge,and above all develop reflection on research ethics.

This initial sub-regional meeting on ethical and bioethicalquestions is meant to open up debates and propose information onthese topics, not only in academic circles but likewise with varioussocial actors, among whom trainers, communicators during a PublicConference on the afternoon of the first day.

The main goal of these Bioethics Days is consequently tostimulate reflection and encourage actions to: document evidence on the present situation of bioethics in West

and Central Africa launch a debate on the Draft UNESCO Universal Declaration

concerning bioethics and human rights reflect on the role of ethics committees in the context of

countries in the sub-region set specific tasks for these committees to ensure people’s

protection make proposals to create and reinforce ethical bodies suggest actions to encourage exchanges of experience and to

reinforce capacities of different social actorsWhile providing scientific bases for debates on bioethics and

research ethics in the sub-region, the Dakar Days should favour theemergence of new interrogations and encourage initiatives for sharingideas concerning ethical dimensions of research involving humanbeings and contribute to the protection of people in Africa.


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PROGRAMME OF THE FIRST DAYS ONBIOETHICS IN WEST AND CENTRAL AFRICA,

DAKAR, SENEGAL, 11 TO 13 JULY 2005

Monday, 11 July

08h-09h Registration of participants0-10h Official Opening10h-10h30 First Session: State of debates on bioethics in Africa –

questions and challengesModerator: Mr. Moussa Samb (IDRC)

- International norms - Emerging questions - Unresolved problems - Bioethics and Human Rights

Presentations by:• Mrs. Marie-Charlotte Bouësseau (WHO)

New challenges for research ethics committees in Africa.Towards proactive research

• Mrs. Aïssatou Touré (EDCTP/IPD)Medical research ethics: challenges and African perspectives

• Mr. Pierre Effa (PABIN)To what extent can bioemedical research be ethical?Foundations for an African Perspective

• Mr. François Vialla (AUF Network “Right to Health”)Which law for bioethics? Overview of a complex normativity

• Mr. Blaise Bikandou (AIDS Research Center: Congo Brazzaville)The drive for ethical research in the sciences of life and healthsystems as foundations for the development of Sub-Sahara Africa

14H30-15H45: SECOND SESSION, Which ethics for research inAfrica?

Moderator: Mr. Moussa Traoré (Bamako University, Mali)Presentations by:• Mr. François Hirsch (NEBRA Network)


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Should the protection of biomedical research participants inAfrica necessarily go through a North-South Dialogue? A fewexamples

• Mr. Achille Massougbodji (Benin – ex-member of IRD ScientificCouncil)Medical ethical research in Africa: conflicts of values

• Mr. Mamadou Badji (Vice Dean, Faculty of Juridical and PoliticalSciences, Cheikh Anta DiopUniversity) and Charles Becker (CNRS-African Study Center)For a history of ethical bodies in Sub-Sahara Africa. Places andActors for the emergence of ethical questioning.

• Mr. Lazare Poamé (Bioethics Committee, Ivory Coast)The role of the philosopher in the emergence of the bioethicsproblematic in Africa: A case study on the control of ethicalresearch

15:45-16:30: DEBATE17h-19h: Public conference by Professor Claude Huriet

Relevance of Bioethics: why, where and how?Moderator: M. Moussa Traoré (University of Bamako)

Open to the public, this conference is the first big public manifestationon bioethics in Senegal. It offers a chance to inform and sensitize thepublic on the role of ethical bodies in carrying out health research inAfrica and on their basic objectives to promote the protection ofpeople.

TUESDAY, 12 JULY

THIRD SESSIONAfrica’s commitment and taking on board ethical questioningModerator: Mr. François Hirsch (INSERM/NEBRA)09H-10H00: Africa’s participation in the elaboration of the

Declaration related to universal norms on bioethicswhich is being elaborated under the supervision ofUNESCO: which possible contributions?

Mr. Pierre Sané, Assistant Director for Social and Human Sciences,UNESCO


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Mr. Pabo Sader, Ambassador, Permanent Delegate of Uruguay toUNESCO, President of the UNESCO IntergovernmentalCommittee on Bioethics

Mr. Bindi Ouaba, President of the Comité d’Éthique Pluridisciplinairepour la Recherche, Burkina Faso

Mr. Ousmane Blondin Diop, Minister Counsellor, PermanentDelegation of Senegal to UNESCO, member of the UNESCOIntergovernmental Committee on Bioethics

10h00-11h15: Debates

11:30-13:00FOURTH SESSION

Which proposals for bioethics and ethics bodies?Moderator: Aminata Diaw, Department of Philosophy, University of

Cheikh Anta DiopMr. Moussa Traoré

Research ethics: realities and perspectives. The case of MaliMr. Usman Nyan

The Experience of Ethical Committees in the GambiaDr. Babacar Dramé et al.

The Experience of the Health Research National Council andEthical Questioning in Senegal

Mr. Okyere BoatengResearch Ethics Committees in Ghana

Mr. Bindi OuobaWhat is a Pluridisciplinary Ethics Committee: the Case of Mali

Mr. Clement AdebamowoEvaluation of the needs for Ethics Review Committees in WestAfrica

14h30-16h:Working groups around the following questions1 – Which types of reflection and proposals should be expected by

these committees?2 – How to reinforce ethics and bioethics committees, to make them

communicate?


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3 – Which types of ethics committees should be created in Africansocieties?

4 – Which role for intellectuals?5 - Which role for ethics committees to play in accompanying health

research?6 – How to ensure social responsibility and participation of various

actors and populations affected by scientific and biomedicalresearch?

7 – How to reinforce ethics committee members’ capacities?8 – What could be common actions to trigger off reflection on ethics

and bioethics research in our countries?9 – Which financing modes for ethics committees? How independent

should committees be vis-à-vis institutions supporting theirwork?

WEDNESDAY, 13 JULY

FIFTH SESSIONModerator: Mr. Achille Massougbodji9H-13hOO:Report back on discussions of meeting and of working groupsReport back from working groups and discussion.

SIXTH SESSION: Conclusions, common work agenda andrecommendations

16H30-17H: OFFICIAL CLOSING CEREMONYPresided by the Minister of Scientific Research of Senegal

Mr. Pierre Effa, participant in the meetingMr. Mamadou Badji, Organising CommitteeMr. Moussa Samb, IDRCMrs. Marie-Charlotte Bouësseau, WHOMr. Pierre Sané, Assistant Director General, UNESCOMr. Christian Sina Diatta, Minister of Scientific Research

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The following questionnaire was used by participants as a basisfor discussions on bioethics and ethics committees

1. Why Ethics Committees in West and Central Africa?2. Which types of ethics Committees to promote: Health researchethics committees? Bioethics Committees? Which type ofcoordination between various ethics committees?3. Which structuration for health research ethics committees? How tochoose ethics committees’ members? Which relations should thesecommittees maintain with Ministries in charge of health and scientificresearch? How should committees relate to Ministries and how muchautonomy should they have?4. Which missions for health research ethics committees? How togive views on research protocols, ensure research follow-up, proposebioethical points of view of general purport?5. Which norms of reference for ethics committees? Do committeesrefer to international norms or elaborate specific norms?6. How to accompany various types of research on the human subject-clinical and vaccination trials, research in human sciences,epidemiological research, operational research- taking into accountspecificities of research for certain “vulnerable groups” in particularchildren?7. Which legislation and regulations should be elaborated to ensurebetter protection of people by ethics committees?8. Which problematics, which questions have cropped up throughAfrican research ethics committees? How to raise today the questionsof consent, medical secret, benefits versus risks?9. Which modes of financing for ethics committees: How independentare committees vis-à-vis institutions giving them financial support?10. Which training for ethics committees’ members and how toreinforce members’ capacities?11. Which types of relations to promote between African ethicscommittees? How to create a network to share experience andacquired knowledge?12. Which form of collaboration with international ethicalorganisations, with national institutions in Northern countries, withresearch centers and ethics training centres?


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OPENING SPEECH BY Mr. ABDOU FALLMinister of Health and Medical Prevention, Senegal

It is a pleasure for me to preside over the opening ceremony of the FirstDays of Bioethics for West and Central Africa in Dakar, which constitute afollow up to scientific activities held in Dakar from 29 March to 1 April2005, within the framework of the AUF Network on The Right to Health.

This meeting is, most certainly, an expression of the commitment of ourStates to reinforce authorities in charge of ethical issues, as well as toprovide specialists with opportunities to exchange ideas on the human andsocial implications of the spectacular developments in science. Theorganization of debates which makes it possible for society to evaluate theissues at stake in bioethics is an urgent need for our countries. In fact, theprinciple of responsibility compels us to consider existing relationshipsbetween science and our consciences in defining ethical principles.

The definition and respect of ethical considerations should not only bethe concern of decision makers, academics and researchers, but also that ofall groups of society within a democratic framework. Indeed, if scientificresearch is said to be a factor of progress, it is important to create conditionsfor democratic exchange of views in order to make sure that scientificprogress does not generate attitudes of distrust, fear, or even rejection.

Political authorities in charge of such matters should use theprecautionary principle to define the framework within which medicalresearch and practices should be carried out. However, the definition of andcompliance with legislative and reglementary frameworks require bothspecific knowledge of bioethical issues and frameworks of concertation foran effective management of daily tensions which these phenomena cangenerate.

African intellectuals, today, are more than ever before being solicited toget actively involved in the debates about research on the embryo, cloning,predictive medicine, all these topics about bioethics, which are the subjectsof current debates in Europe.

Ladies and gentlemen, partners in development, researchers andspecialists in bioethics, Africa is once more concerned, at a time when aninstitution like UNESCO is launching a debate on the Universal Declarationon Bioethics, to share with the rest of the world its preoccupations abouthow to utilize scientific performances in the respect of human dignity.

As a result, this Dakar forum is especially important in so far as it mustregister significant breakthroughs in topical issues among which:


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Why is it necessary to set up ethical and bioethical committees inAfrica?

Which reference norms for ethical committees in Africa? Which laws and regulations must we elaborate to safeguard better

protection? Which types of relations should be promoted between African ethical

committees? Which financial procedures are most appropriate for ethical committees

in Africa?We can then ask ourselves questions about the means society has to keep

under control scientific activities within limits exclusively beneficial forhuman beings.

Ladies and gentlemen, considering the issues at stake in bioethics andgiven the imperative to face urgencies concerning access to quality healthcare for African populations, it is urgent to consider appropriate methods forlegal and ethical training in biomedical research in Africa. This forum whichbrings together in synergy the expertise of specialists in the field of ethicsand bioethics representing different academic disciplines from researchcentres, the UN system, and universities, should provide a significantcontribution to better protect human rights in our countries.

In fact, health disparities and inequalities are a major developmentchallenge for the new millennium. As a case in point, WHO has estimatedthat 90 % of the resources devoted to research and development in themedical field are concentrated on diseases causing less than 10 per cent ofsuffering in the world today..

That is why rapid progress in biomedical sciences tends to widen thehealth gap between peoples rather than to reduce it. A WHO report on thehuman genome and world health published in 2002 expresses concern thatgenetic research could lead to an accentuation of inequalities in the health ofthe population of the world. At this stage, the question is the following:“will newly conceived medicines and other benefits resulting from genomicresearch in the private sector only be available to the rich?”

You will, I hope, agree with me, ladies and gentlemen, distinguishedparticipants, that in Africa immense challenges lie ahead. To overcome theseconstraints and transform ethics and bioethics into guiding lights for medicaland biomedical practices in our countries, it is more than urgent to maintainthis dynamic convergence witnessed today at this meeting among decisionmakers, researchers and partners in development.

As far as Senegal is concerned, political will to encourage the setting upof ethical and bioethical bodies is more than ever evident. This ambition ofthe President of the Republic concretized by the Prime Minister and hisGovernment is shown through our participation international debates on


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bioethics and by the creation of the National Health Research Councilresponsible for monitoring ethical principles for research on health in ourcountry. May I take this opportunity to recall to you the commitment of theHead of State, of the Prime Minister, and of the entire government to supportthis initiative for a dialogue between African and European experts onbioethics and ethics for a better protection of human beings.

For this objective of human protection to become effective, initiatives ofthis sort must be renewed to mobilise African expertise in this struggle,together with others concerned with social justice. The Senegaleseauthorities are concerned by a twofold objective: not to impede thedevelopment of medical techniques to fight diseases and any other type ofdisabilities, while at the same time setting reasonable limits to thisdevelopment. So within the framework of the human genome, Senegalapproves the progress made in this field, but totally opposes all forms ofhuman cloning. Professor Cheikh Tidiane Thiam emphasized such a positionin the informal consultations of French speaking countries on the occasion ofthe 61st session of the UN Commission on Human Rights.

Once more, let me take advantage of this meeting of exchange andreflection to give you on behalf of the Head of State, his ExcellencyAbdoulaye Wade, the Prime Minister and the Government, sincere thanks toour partners who backed us up this initiative, and express to them thegratitude of all countries involved in this magnificent project which iscertainly going to be long standing if one considers this massiveparticipation.

I should like to also thank the organizing committee who has beenworking for more than three months now to show what a partnershipapproach can really achieve.

To all of you, dear Participants, I express once more the willingness ofmy Ministry to accompany you in this process of strengthening the meansfor protecting human populations by ensuring their access to quality healthcare in the respect for their human dignity.

I wish you success and formally declare open the First Days forBioethics in West and Central Africa.

Speech by Madame Aïssatou Touré, Member of the Organising Committee

It is a great pleasure to take the floor on behalf of the organizingcommittee to express my gratitude to all those who made these First Days onWest and Central Africa a reality.


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Two months ago, it was not clear whether this event could take placetoday. But institutions like the Ministries of Health and Scientific Researchencouraged us in spite of various difficulties to overcome. I should like tothank the Ministry of Health and Medical Prevention for being always onour side, which allowed us to work efficiently.

Let me please, Honorable Minister take this opportunity to especiallythank our partners for their strategic and financial support in this initiative, Imean in particular IDRC, UNESCO, WHO, the French Ministry of ForeignAffairs, the AUF, the Pasteur Institute (Paris and Dakar), IRD, the CheikhAnta Diop University, Dakar (which has so generously hosted us in thismagnificent building), the Gaston Berger University (Saint-Louis), and theSenegalese Network “Law, Ethics and Health”.

In fact, these organisations and institutions quickly understood all theissues at stake in holding such a forum for French speaking Africa. The mainobjective of this meeting is to remedy the present shortage of debates onbioethical questions in this part of the continent, and above all in a countrycharacterized by immense economic and social challenges, mainly in thehealth sector at a time when we register an exponential growth in scienceand more frequent uses of clinical practices. Yet current debates on researchethics are next to nothing, and ethics committees are not yet sound enough toefficiently contribute to the protection of people. In this approach, we canonly pay a tribute to the impetus of this initiative among the publicMinistries and our partners as well.

I also would like to thank all my colleagues from Africa and Europe, allof them willing to join in this vast social movement, determined as they allare to promote debates on bioethics, and set up ethics bodies in West andCentral Africa.

Honorable Minister,Organizing committees do not, as a rule, thank their members, but I

should like nonetheless to stress the crucial input by Mr. Charles Becker inorganizing this forum. In fact, his involvement in and commitment to ethicalquestions and the right to health have generated sustainable dynamismamong all committee members.

I do hope that all these efforts will trigger off fruitful debates which willhelp provide guidelines for our continent to have ethical reflection bodies aswell as strong ethics committees to manage new problematic issuesgenerated by scientific development in general and biomedicine inparticular.

Thank you for your attention.


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Speech by Dr. Malang Coly on behalf of Dr. Yankalbe,WHO Representative to Senegal

Dr. Yankalbe, WHO representative in Senegal, who could not make ittoday, asked me to present you all his apologies as he could not personallybe here for the opening ceremony of this very important forum. He asked meto deliver the following message.

It is a great pleasure to welcome you in the capital of Senegal on theoccasion of the First Bioethics Days for West and Central Africa.

For the next three days, distinguished scientific authorities from here andabroad in charge of ethics issues as well as specialists from Africa andEurope will be here to exchange ideas.

Honorable Minister,Dr. Luis Gomez Sambo, WHO Regional Director for Africa

congratulates you for this excellent idea to organize this important meetingon such a relevant topic: “Which ethics for research in Africa ?”

As you well know, ethics plays a crucial role in research activities.One of the major WHO objectives in this field is to provide countries

with the necessary technical backing to enable them to formulate theirpriorities in research and to elaborate policies and research strategies basedon national health programs and current reforms in this sector. Research willnotably contribute to the concrete improvement of sanitary situations: byproducing readily exploitable knowledge on a daily basis and at individuallevel. In addition such knowledge can lead to direct technical interventionssuch as the testing of vaccines, the availability of new medicines and manyother public health measures which have considerable impact on thetreatment of diseases.

By Resolution AFR/RC 48/R4 adopted during the WHO RegionalCommittee for African Health Ministers at its 48th session held in Harare inSeptember 1998, Ministers committed themselves to setting up nationalcommittees responsible for elaborating ethical guidelines and to help makesure they are respected especially during clinical trails involving humansubjects.

The role of ethics committee is to contribute to safeguarding humandignity, rights, security and the welfare of all actual and potential personsparticipating in research programmes. No matter how important they maybe, research objectives should never place health issues, human welfare andthe care of research participants in second place. The principle of fairnessdemands that research advantages and drawbacks be equally distributedbetween all groups and social classes, bearing in mind gender, age,economic status, culture as well as ethical considerations.


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In view of the preceding considerations, WHO fully agrees with thediagnosis of the situation which you made, which justifies this meeting,namely a great deal of health and biomedical research has been carried out inAfrica, at a time when debates on research ethics are equally crucial to set upnorms and specific rules to guarantee people’s protection.

Likewise, it is imperative to carry out reflection so as to respond to thespecific following questions on the agenda of the present meeting:

— Which ethical frameworks for the various types of research on humansubjects and on children in particular ?

— Which laws and regulations specific to the African context should weelaborate to guarantee better protection for populations?

— Which ethical training would be appropriate for members of ethicscommittees?

— Finally, which form of collaboration should be established betweenAfrican countries and international bodies dealing with ethicalissues?

During the next three days, several papers will be presented and a PublicConference will be delivered by a distinguished researcher, followed bycomments and observations from experts on ethics from Africa and Europe.A public debate will be organized on ethics in African countries; you willalso debate aspects related to the structuring of ethics committees,coordinating activities, finances and the autonomy of ethics committees.You will share experiences and benefit from the help of experts on ethicsand research. These activities will no doubt give you a chance to breakthrough new grounds so as to reinforce ethics in research actions on thecontinent.

Ladies and gentlemen, Dear participantsThe respect of ethics is a real challenge to public health, in Africa in

particular, so we must rise to this challenge. WHO and all its partners inthese First Days on Bioethics will follow with interest your sessions andrecommendations. Incidentally, I should like on behalf of the WHOrepresentative to Senegal to thank the following institutions: UNESCO, theIDRC, the , French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, AUF, the NEBRANetwork, the Senegalese Network “Law, Ethics and Health” for such abeautiful spirit of sharing and their constant support to the health sector inAfrica, and in Senegal in particular.

My best wishes to all of you for an agreeable stay in Senegal, thecountry of Teranga (hospitality). I wish great success to your sessions, andthank you for your attention.


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Speech by Mr. Pierre Sané, Assistant Director General for SocialSciences and Human Sciences, UNESCO

Honorable Minister, Ladies and GentlemanOn behalf of the Director General of UNESCO, allow me to state that it

is with immense pleasure that UNESCO has accepted to be part of theorganization of these First Days of Bioethics for West and Central Africa.

The history of humanity has been accompanied by scientificbreakthroughs and technological innovations which have deeply affected itsevolution. In the second half of the last century, rapid unprecedenteddevelopments in scientific knowledge and accelerated technologicaldevelopments led most societies to undergo crucial changes and broughtabout the transformation of the paradigms by which we have, so far,understood the world and social interactions.

Our present societies must be able to face these new issues at stake andbe fully aware of the human and social implications of scientific researchand their technological applications as well as the growth of bioethicalmovements, which are undoubtedly important features of the XXIth century.In the field of life sciences, only ethics will set limits between what isfeasible and what is acceptable: the respect of human dignity which, in theterms and spirit of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, is “inherentto all the members of the human family”, must take precedence over anyother consideration.

In a multi-polar world characterized by an unprecedented shattering ofperceptions, it is more than ever before mandatory to work for theemergence of values for sustainable technological, ecological and socialcoexistence. Such a context puts new responsibilities on the shoulders of thescientific community, decision-makers and citizens. These responsibilitieswill only be faced by discussing and elaborating common values.

No doubt UNESCO has an important role to play in this domain. In fact,UNESCO’s Constitution, while affirming in its Preamble that peace “mustbe established upon the foundations of humanity’s intellectual and moralsolidarity” assigns to the Organization an ethical mandate.

That is why, for more than ten years now, UNESCO, the sole specializedinstitution of the United Nations system which encompasses culture, scienceand social sciences in its field of competence has developed a bioethicalprogram which reflects multi, pluridisciplinarity and transculturaldimensions. UNESCO is committed to take crucial actions to involve allcountries in this international exchange and has consequently acquiredthroughout these years a leading role in this domain. Such a commitmentsupposes diversity and the formulation as well of common fundamentalprinciples.


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Ladies and GentlemenThese First Days on Bioethics are very important since they reflect the

African continent’s growing interest in bioethical questions and itsincreasing participation in international debates. We are all aware of thecentral place of the African continent when it comes to ethical issues raisedby the development of science and technology and also of how muchpopulations in remote areas need protection against abuses and risks in thisfield Africa a cradle of humanity, must play a decisive role in ethicalthinking world wide.

The role of African countries is very decisive at this early phase ofadopting the text which lays the foundation of universal bioethicalprinciples: the forthcoming Universal Declaration on Bioethics and HumanRights. In the process of elaborating such a Declaration, Africa hasresolutely and actively involved itself in various stages, and in so doing hasshown willingness to come up with a consensual text in the required time.African countries (the Ivory Coast, Cameroon, Senegal, Congo) haveresponded favourably to consultations conducted at all levels, including byreplying to a questionnaire and through hearings and discussions withnational bioethics committees.

Various African countries were represented at the sessions in April andJune 2005 of the Intergovernemental Experts Meeting to work on thefinalisation of the draft Declaration. The countries were: Angola, Benin,Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Gabon, Kenya, Malawi, Mauritania, Niger, Uganda,Senegal, and Tanzania. They all took an active part in the debate. Mycountry, Senegal, which is hosting today’s event has been particularly active,as a facilitator, on various occasions of negotiations between countries, so asto find compromises on sensitive issues.

The text, just as the other international instruments, would be ineffectivewithout follow up actions to monitor it at national level. Events of this naturewill decisively contribute to extend international actions at regional andnational levels through sensitizing people to bioethical issues and byfavouring fruitful interdisciplinary dialogue, within society as a whole.

Another way to implement and promote bioethical debate is throughnational bioethical committees who have a leading role to play in this area. .At national level they help serve as a link between governmental authoritiesand society at large. African countries have felt the necessity to promote thecreation of such committees.. As a case in point, some countries like Côted’Ivoire have obtained technical support from UNESCO in setting up theirnational committee..


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I hope, you will, in this forum, devote a specific session to thesecommittees.

Ladies and Gentlemen,International reflection on such growing issues cannot take place without

African participation. That is why UNESCO intends to reinforce itsactivities in the African region as part of its programme for bioethics andethics of science and technology during 2006 to 2007.

I hope these Days will be the starting point of many more to come and Ifirmly believe they will be the springboard for the development ofinternational bioethics activities.

I thank you very much for your attention.

Speech by Mrs. Carrie Marias,Regional Adviser for Social Sciences and Human Sciences

On behalf of the Assistant Director General for Social Sciences andHuman Sciences, UNESCO, Paris, and of the Director of the UNESCODakar Office, it is an immense pleasure to welcome all of you participants,to these First Days of Bioethics for West and Central Africa.

Today we meet as partners to discuss priority and urgent issues forAfrica. Faced with rapid and almost unexpected breakthroughs in scienceand technology, we must pause a moment to consider both the quality anddirections of scientific, technological and biomedical research, its objectives,to make sure this research and its practical applications will indeedcontribute to the improvement of the human condition, and that it does notimpact negatively upon the welfare and the human dignity of populations,that it is not misused for inhumane purposes.

Such a concern led UNESCO to set up a specific program on the ethicsof science and technology including bioethics in 1993. Through its bioethicsprogram, UNESCO deals with ethical, legal, social, cultural, spiritual,psychological questions of the life sciences, and of genetics in particular.

In 2001, the UN Secretary General created the Inter-institutionalCommittee for Bioethics whose permanent secretariat is managed byUNESCO, so as to improve cooperation between international organizationsand other institutions.

When talking about bioethics, we must bear in mind human rights andhuman dignity which are the bases of international instruments whichUNESCO has elaborated, that is to say the Universal Declaration on theHuman Genome and Human Rights adopted in 1997, the InternationalDeclaration on Human Genetic Data adopted in 2003, and the draft


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Universal Declaration on Bioethics and Human Rights which will bediscussed at the 33rd session of the UNESCO General Conference inSeptember 2005.. This will be a good opportunity to examine and discuss afew concerns and topics which this Declaration raises.

To talk about human rights and approaches in terms of human rights,also means a request and necessity to promote solidarity within countries,towards various populations including the most vulnerable groups, as well asat international level by sharing scientific knowledge and scientific researchbetween nations and regions. Africa must remain in and actively getinvolved in the production and utilization of scientific knowledge. In thisconference, we will have the chance to examine ethical questions and look atchallenges for Africa and the entire world community.

We are looking forward to fruitful debates and fresh ideas; and do hopethat we will all continue to unite to pursue regional and sub-regionalcooperation

Thank you for your attention

Speech by Mr Moussa Samb,Principal Administrator, CRDI, CRDI, DAKAR

Allow me please to express the IDRC’s and the Director General, DrGilles Forget’s gratitude for having been associated in the organisation ofthis important scientific forum.

As you are well aware, ethical considerations are essential in IDRC’sresearch and development policy. No research proposal will be approvedwithout clear specification of how its authors approach ethical questions, interms of formulation, monitoring and diffusion of research results.

Ethical question are even more central in research dealing with health,be they related to experimental investigations on human beings or to thedevelopment of behavioural knowledge.

Respect of confidentiality, obtaining approval and consent by humanresearch subjects, information provided before hand, respect for the privatesphere, are all ethical imperatives necessary for the respect of human dignityand fundamental human rights.

The expertise of participants present and the scientific papers which willbe presented lead us to believe that the goals set for this encounter will bemet and that this will provide the regional with an opportunity to reinforceinstitutional capacities of ethical committees, and begin to put into place anetwork for the exchange of knowledge and experiences at regional levelconcerning ethics of research.


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IDRC is particularity interested in collaborating in this reflection, and insupporting, in accordance with its mandate, all initiatives and researchactions which will be taken as a follow up to these First Days.

I wish you success in your work and an enjoyable stay in Dakar forthose who have traveled from afar to contribute to the advancement ofscience and ethics in Africa.

Speech by Isaac Yankhoba Ndiaye,Vice-President, University Cheikh Anta Diop

on behalf of Abdou Salam Sall, Rector and President of theBoard of the University Board

I have great pleasure to deliver this speech at the opening session ofthese First Days on Bioethics in West and Central Africa (11-13 July, 2005).

This forum whose first day’s topics will deal with fundamental issuesand which will, in the next two days, bear on health research and ethicalcommittees, is a major scientific event for several reasons: It brings together for the first time, researchers and members of ethics

committees and ethical authorities from West and Central Africa todiscuss at a sub-regional level questions concerning African societiesand African communities.

Ethics and bioethics questions, which will be our concern, arefundamental at all levels, not only because they promote the right tohealth and protection of populations but also because they guaranteeequity for health care access for vulnerable people and groups.

In a context where biomedical research on and for human beings isfast growing to respond to health problems which plague ourcontinent, reflection is necessary to better understand ethical issuesbrought about by scientific progress and the application ofbiotechnologies.

Cheikh Anta Diop University prides itself on hosting the opening day ofyour sessions and in taking an active part in them, as these will no doubtgenerate decisive debates and make specific recommendations for the settingup of efficient and operational national ethical committees and promotespaces for reflection on bioethics and ethics in the sub-region.

The Universities of Dakar and Saint-Louis, who have been associated inorganising these scientific days, are involved in intellectual debates overethical questions about scientific practices, in particular the professors andresearchers specialized in medical and biological sciences, and some of theircolleagues in legal sciences, and economic and human sciences as well.


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Philosophers, jurists, anthropologists, economists, biologists, medicaldoctors and pharmacists are all concerned and are invited to join in thedebates on ethics, on the sense of their scientific production and on thefoundations of their scientific practice. If deontological questions are, orrather must be paramount for teachers and researchers in our Universities –questions on ethics must equally be understood by all of us. The creation andstrengthening of bodies for discussion and evaluation of the ethics ofresearch is indeed a priority, so that henceforth science may rhyme withconscience.

And the role of the university which is to teach, educate, andcommunicate knowledge is also to enlighten society, to bring all necessaryscientific responses, while evaluating the risks of any research on the living.

This is to affirm, at the same time, the central place of universities in theproduction of knowledge useful to African societies, and in the equitablesharing of the results of research without really masking the problems thatsuch research may raise.

African professors and researchers who are engaged with colleaguesfrom the North in spearheading research projects should be firmlydetermined to put this new knowledge and research results in the service ofpopulations, to make sure that Africa, where a lot or research is carried out,does not continue to be a laboratory. It is everybody’s duty to see to it thatethical principles and universally accepted norms are adopted, known andapplied.

The University whose spokesperson I am today affirms its agreement toendorse your interrogations on ethics, ethics and bioethics research. In sodoing, this university announces its intention to start pluridisciplinaryreflection on law, ethics and health, which will involve specialists from theuniversity community, a university whose primary role is to serve as a guidefor society.

Cheikh Anta Diop University has been involved in the preparation ofthese Days and will, as a result, fully contribute to the success of yourforum. The university will make it a point to fully endorse all therecommendations.

In accordance with its motto “Lux Mea Lex”, Dakar University invitesyou to extend the definition of the law to ethics which you will debate inthese Days, and to better circumscribe the light which should become withthe law, the torchlight of our societies.

Wishing all the best to your sessions, I should like to state again thedetermination of our academics researchers to go along with you on this longquest which is only beginning with your questioning of the stakes of ethicalresearch in Africa.

Thank you very much for listening.


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LIST OF PARTICIPANTS

Bénin

Prof. Achille MassougbodjiFac. Sciences de la SantéUniv. Abomey Calavi - BeninMembre du Bureau exécutif de PABINEx-Membre du Comité scientifique del’IRDTél. 229 95 44 19 / 04 20 12 / 36 02 [email protected]

Burkina Faso

Dr Ouoba BindiPharmacienPrésident du Comité d'Éthiquepluridisciplinaire pour la rechercheBureau : 226 50 36 66 74 Mobile : 226 7659 61 [email protected]

Dr Assétou Ismaëla DermeSociologue, Centre National de Rechercheet de Formation sur le Paludisme(CNRFP)Tél : 226 50 32 46 95/96Mobile: 226 70 26 22 66Fax: 226 30 12 [email protected] [email protected]

Cameroun

Prof. Pierre EffaSociété Camerounaise de BioéthiqueProf. ésident - Vice Prof. ésident de PABINBP 2743Douala - CamerounTel bureau : 237 340 95 45 / 43 39Tel mobile : 237 776 75 19Fax : 237 342 77 [email protected]

Congo Brazzaville

Dr Blaise BikandouCongo, National Institute of Public Health,BrazzavilleChercheur spécialiste sur les questions debioéthiqueTel. 538 25 [email protected]

Congo Kinshasa

Prof. Raphaël Chirimwami BulakaliPathologiste, Doyen de la Faculté deMédecine de l’Université Catholiquede Bukavuet membre du ComitéInstitutionnel d’ÉthiqueUniversité Catholique de BukavuRépublique Démocratique du CongoTél. 081 31 81 [email protected]

Côte-d’Ivoire

Prof. Lazare Marcelin PoaméVice-DoyenUFR Lettres, Arts et Sciences humainesUniversité de Bouaké Président du Comité consultatif nationalde bioéthique de la République de Côte-d’IvoireCôte d’IvoireTel.: 225 05 835 830, 225 05 887 218, 20324 825Fax: 225 20 218 123 - 225 22 42 59 [email protected]

France

Dr Marc GuerrierChercheur en éthiqueFranceTel. 331 44 84 17 [email protected]

Prof. François HirschINSERM, ParisCoordonnateur de [email protected]

Prof. Claude HurietInstitut Curie – ParisMembre du CIB de l’UNESCOTél. 331 44 32 40 [email protected]

Dr Christophe PerreyAnthropologue PharmacologueFranceTel. 00331 42 65 40 94 / 47 22 74 [email protected]


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Mme Laurence Piersontel 334 78699925 - mobile 336 [email protected]

Prof. François ViallaVice – Doyen de la Faculté de Droit deMontpellierRéseau AUF “Droit de la Santé”Tel. 00 33 (0) 610 68 10 [email protected]

Gabon

Prof. Fidèle Pierre Nzé-NguémaTitulaire de la Chaire UNESCO sur leDéveloppement Social et la DémocratieDépartement de Sociologie, UniversitéOmar Bongo, LibrevilleUniversité Omar Bongo, BP 13131Tél : 241 24 92 [email protected]

Gambie

Prof. Ousman NyanMRC / Dean, Faculty of MedicineUniversity of GambiaBanjulTel. 220 993 48 [email protected]

Guinée

Prof. Naby Moussa BaldéFaculté de Médecine Pharmacie etOdontostomatologie de l'Université deConakry224 11543319 ou 224 [email protected]@mirinet.net.gn

Ghana

Prof. Okyere BoatengIRB AdministratorNoguchi Memorial Institute for MedicalResearchP O BOX LG 581University of GhanaLegon – Accra, GhanaTel. : 233 21 501 181fax : 233 21 502 [email protected]

Mali

Prof. Moussa TraoréMédecin NeurologueDoyen de la Faculté de MédecineComité Directeur de NEBRABamakoTél. 223 222 96 [email protected]@hotmail.com

NigeriaProf. Clement AdebamowoUniversity of IbadanWest African Bioethics TrainingProgrammeIbadanExternal Advisory Committee of the GRADBiobank ProjectHoward Univ, Washington [email protected]

République Centrafricaine

Dr Eric Kassa KelembhoChercheur scientifique à l’Institut Pasteurde Bangui, RCARCA - République CentrafricaineTel 236 61 01 [email protected]

SénégalM. Bahani AgalheirSciences Humaines – UNESCOTel. 611 47 [email protected]

Mme Irène Amenyah EfuahSpécialiste en ÉducationTel. 221 578 08 [email protected]

M. Djidiam [email protected]

Prof. Doudou BaUCADTel. 824 13 [email protected]

Prof. Mamadou Keith BadianeDirecteur de la Pharmacie / MSPMTel. 822 44 [email protected]

Prof. Mamadou BadjiJuriste - Assesseur FSJP DakarTel. (221) 824 95 70 / 658 49 [email protected], [email protected],[email protected]

Prof. Boubacar BarryHistorien - UCADTel. 221 824 93 [email protected]

Dr Barry Oumou KanePFQ/DER/DSTel. 864 12 [email protected]

M. Philippe BarrySPIDS – Syndicat du [email protected]


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M. Charles BeckerChercheur CNRS - HistorienAnthropologueTel. 824 69 [email protected]

M. Benoît BergegèreUNESCOTel. 849 23 [email protected]

M. Mady Marie BouaréUniversité Gaston Berger - Saint-LouisTel. 567 86 [email protected]

Dr Denis BoulangerChercheur IRDTel. 849 35 [email protected]

M. Jean François CamaraÉtudiant Dép. S.N.Tel. 842 16 98Prof. Mounirou CissChef Laboratoire National de Contrôle dumédicamentTel. 221 821 93 91 / 221 842 33 [email protected]

Mme Amy Cissé DiopUNESCOTel. 849 23 [email protected]

Cissé MalickMr Malick CisséJuriste - Inspecteur des AffairesAdministratives et FinancièresMSPM - DakarTel. 869 42 [email protected]

M. Patrick CorreaCT / MSPMTel. 869 42 [email protected]

Mlle Mathilde CoudercAnthropologueTel. 619 26 [email protected]

Dr Bocar Mamadou DaffProjet DISC /USAIDTel. 644 92 [email protected]

Prof. Anta Tall DiaISEDTél : 221 824 98 78 – 637 02 [email protected]

Prof. Yaye Kène Dia GassamaProfesseur à la Faculté des Sciences del’UCADBiotechnologies végétalesTel. 825 40 [email protected]

Mme Andrée-Marie DiagneFormateur de formateurs - Écolenormale supérieureTél. 221 641 02 08 / 221 825 14 [email protected]

M. Moussa DiakhatéSNIS/MSPMTel. 656 56 [email protected]

Dr Aldiouma DialloÉpidémiologisteIRD / SénégalTel. 849 35 59 - Fax 832 43 [email protected]

M. Alioune Moreau DialloDAGE / MSPMTel. 654 11 87

Mme Oumou K. DialloInformaticienneTel. 649 01 [email protected]

Prof. Aminata Cissé DiawDépartement de PhilosophieUCADTel. 825 70 [email protected]

Mr Abdou Issa DiengCT / MSPMSénégalTel. 869 42 [email protected]

Mme Françoise DiengProf. Droit PrivéTel. 824 22 [email protected]

Dr Moustapha DiengPneumologue (Ordre des Médecins)Tel. 632 50 26 / 835 04 [email protected]

Dr Thérèse DiengParasitologieTel. 654 20 [email protected]

Dr Thierno DiengÉpidémiologisteTel. 823 37 [email protected]


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Prof. Amadou Moctar DièyePharmacologie - UCADTél : 6816554 - Fax. 825 29 [email protected]

Prof. Buuba DiopUCAD - CONGAD644 41 [email protected]

Dr Demba Anta DioneMédecin, Santé PubliqueTel. 642 34 [email protected]

M. Amadou Moustapha DiopLinguiste Rectorat / UCADTel. 634 31 [email protected]

Dr Daouda DiopPharmacie / Gestion ApprovisionnementTel. 859 50 62 / 859 50 74Fax. 859 50 [email protected]

Dr Dialo DiopMédecin BiologisteTel. 632 53 [email protected]

M. Massamba DiopMSPM / D.S. conseillerTel. 652 49 55 / 597 70 86

Dr Fodé DioufMSPM / CAS / [email protected]

Mme Mame Gaye F. DioufSécretaireTel. 869 42 [email protected]

Dr Babacar DraméDirecteur de la Santé /[email protected] [email protected]

M. Moussa DraméDocumentaliste CRDITél. 864 00 [email protected]

Dr Aboubacry FallMédecin Santé PubliqueTel. 869 42 [email protected]

Dr Sidy FallMédecin Santé PubliqueTel. 832 29 [email protected]

Prof. Sana FatyDirecteur de la Recherche scientifique /[email protected] 8497140 – 560 1164

Dr Daouda FayeChirurgien Dentiste de Santé publiqueTel. 683 86 [email protected]

Prof. Oumar GayeParasitologie [email protected]

Dr Papa Coumba GayeMédecinTel. 864 42 [email protected]

Dr Mame Abdoulaye GuèyeDirecteur des Établissements de Santé /MSPMTel. 869 48 05 - 644 08 [email protected]

Prof Papa Banga GuisséUNESCOTel.849 23 40 / 689 28 [email protected]

Mr Papa Assane HaneSecréta i re Général CommissionSénégalaise pour l’UNESCOTel. 822 57 30 - Fax. 821 17 [email protected]

Dr Assane KaneDermatologueTel. 889 38 [email protected]

Prof. Alassane KantéFSJP / UCADTél : 860 09 85 – 680 32 91

Dr. Jean Jacques KussCT / MSPMTél : 5544770 - D 8244454 - 864 42 [email protected]

M. Bachir LôDocumentalisteTel. 835 89 [email protected]

M. Alioune LoumChargé Information - ONU / SénégalTel. 889 11 89 - fax : 822 14 [email protected]

MaodoÉtudiantTel. 668 17 58


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Mme Carrie MariasConseillère régionale pour les Sciencessociales et humaines - UNESCO - DakarTél. 849 23 25 – 849 23 04 - 505 34 [email protected],[email protected]

M. Abdoulaye MbathieDI Formation DRHTel. 523 36 09

M. Khalifa MbengueCommunication OMS SénégalTél : 221 869 59 30 – 545 83 [email protected]

Dr Amadou Tidjane MoreauPopulation [email protected]él : 221 680 76 76 – 865 12 55

Dr Mamadou NdiadéOrdre des pharmaciensTél : 221 825 09 28 - 996 10 [email protected]

Dr Cheikh Samba NdiayeMédecinTel. 864 27 [email protected]

Dr Ndèye Fatou NdiayePharmacien ONP (PNA)Tel. 859 50 67 / 859 50 [email protected]

Dr Babacar NdoyeMédecin - DSTel. 869 42 97 / 634 22 [email protected]

Prof. Moustapha NgaïdéFSJP/UCADTél : 221 648 85 66 – 820 88 63

M. Ahmadou NiangSecr.Gén. Association Sénégalaise desHémophilesTel. 578 36 [email protected]

Dr Mbayame NiangChargé de recherches, Institut PasteurDakarTel. 560 85 12 / 839 92 [email protected]

Dr Ousseynou NobaMédecinTel. 864 42 92

Dr Ronald PerrautImmunologiste - Institut Pasteur [email protected]

M. Samba Cor SarrDS/DR/MSPMTél. 221 869 43 [email protected]

M. Issa SavaréAdministrateur de la Santé, ConseillerTechnique MSPMTel. 637 28 08

Dr Jean-François SchemannMédecin IRDTel. 221 849 35 [email protected]

M. Ousmane SenghorProfesseur de lettres, Conseiller techniqueMSPMTel. 869 42 53

Mme Évelyne SengsuwanAmbassade de France - SCACTel. 839 53 [email protected]

Prof Ibrahima SillaDocteur en Sciences PolitiquesUCAD DakarTel. 608 91 [email protected]

Dr Cheikh SokhnaChercheur IRDTel. 849 35 [email protected]

Prof. Lamine SowFaculté de médecine UCADMédecine Légale - Ordre des MédecinsTel. 865 23 [email protected]

M. Mamadou SyCommunicateurTel. 824 24 48

Dr Adama TallMédecin épidémiologiste, Institut PasteurDakarTel. 839 92 47 / 520 44 [email protected]

Prof. Saydou Nourou TallFSJP / UCADJuristeTel. 221 643 99 [email protected]

M. Racine TallaChef SNEIPSTel. 827 55 [email protected]


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M. Antoine TineMaître Assistant, UFR Sciences JuridiquesPolitiste - PhilosopheUniversité Gaston Berger - Saint-LouisTél. 851 98 38 / 99email : [email protected]

ThiernoEPSTel. 546 71 88

Dr Aïssatou TouréImmunologiste, Institut Pasteur DakarCNRSTél. 646 28 [email protected]@sentoo.sn

Dr Awa O. TouréHématologisteTel. 821 57 [email protected]

Togo

Prof Christophe Kwami DikenouUniversité de Lomé, TogoPan African Bioethics Initiative,International Association of BioethicsLaboratoire de recherche sur l'éthique et labioéthique, Université de LoméB.P. 12 919 Lomé-Togotel. 228 222 14 33Fax 228 225 13 [email protected]

OMS Dakar

Dr Malang ColyOMS - Dakar221 869 59 30

Mbengue KhalifaOMS - Dakar221 869 59 30 – 545 83 [email protected]

OMS Genève

Dr Marie Charlotte BouësseauFonctionnaire Technique, Départementd’Éthique, GenèveBureau: 41 22 791 1432Fax: 41 12 22 791 21 [email protected]

UNESCO Paris

Mr Pierre SanéSous Directeur GénéralPour les Sciences Sociales et HumainesUNESCO [email protected]

S.E/H.E. M Pablo Sader (Uruguay)AmbassadeurDélégation permanente auprès del’UNESCOPrésident du Comité intergouvernementalde Bioéthique Tél. 331.45.68.34.70 – [email protected],[email protected]

M. Ousmane Diop Blondin (Sénégal)Ministre Conseiller, Délégué permanentadjoint auprès de l’UNESCOMembre du Comité intergouvernementalde BioéthiqueSénégal / UNESCOTel. 331 45 68 33 [email protected]

ORGANISATEURS

MINISTÈRE DE LA SANTE

Mr Samba Cor SarrDivision Recherche, Direction de la SantéMinistère de la Santé et de la PréventionmédicaleTél. 869 43 13 – Cel. 647 09 [email protected]

Mme Aminata CisséAssistanteDivision Recherche, Direction de la SantéMinistère de la Santé et de la Préventionmédicale

MINISTÈRE DE LA RECHERCHE

Mr Papa El Hassane DiopMinistère de la Recherche ScientifiqueDirecteur des BiotechnologiesTél. 221 849 71 90 – 849 75 [email protected]

CNRS

Mr Charles BeckerCNRS - Centre d’Études AfricainesEnseignant Faculté des SciencesJuridiques et Politiques, UCADTél. 221 824 69 55 / 824 10 73 / 695 93 [email protected]


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UCAD

Mr Mamadou BadjiAssesseur Faculté des SciencesJuridiques et PolitiquesUCADTél. 824 95 70 - Cell. 658 49 [email protected], [email protected],[email protected]

INSTITUT PASTEUR

Mme Aïssatou TouréInstitut Pasteur de Dakar, BP 220 DakarTél. 221 839 92 41 – Cel. 646 28 [email protected] - [email protected]

UNESCO Dakar

Carrie MariasConseillère Régionale pour les SciencesSociales et Humaines221 [email protected] ,[email protected]

Papa Banga GuisséConsultant/Coordinateur Sous Régional duProf. projet UNESCO/LuxembourgUnité Régionale pour les SciencesSociales et Humaines en AfriqueTél : 221 849 23 40 / 221 689 28 [email protected]

Bahani AgalheirAssistant Réseau Electronique Régionaldes ChairesUnité Régionale pour les SciencesSociales et Humaines en Afrique221 849 23 23, poste [email protected]

Benoît BergegèreUnité Régionale pour les SciencesSociales et Humaines en Afrique221 849 23 23, poste 2346

Amy Diop CisséUnité Régionale pour les SciencesSociales et Humaines en Afrique221 849 23 [email protected]

CRDI

Mr Moussa SambAdministrateur Prof. principal de Prof.programmes au CRDI221 8640000 – 2219 / [email protected]

Mme Irène Amenyah EfuahSpécialiste en ÉducationCRDI et ROCARETél : 221 860 00 00 - 221 578 08 [email protected]

W I U i W

promoting bioethics in africa - rds.refer.snrds.refer.sn/img/pdf/bioethicsdaysengabridgedok1.pdf ·...

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