Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Tosin Omoniyi
Published on 2024-03-23 12:44:42
The Renevlyn Development Initiative (RDI) organized a training session for Nigerian journalists to discuss the controversies surrounding ‘gene drives’ research organizations targeting Africans as “guinea pigs”. The goal of the training was to equip journalists with the knowledge and tools to effectively report on these controversies.
Philip Jakpor, the Executive Director of RDI, highlighted the importance of the media in keeping the public informed and scrutinizing initiatives that may not align with African culture. Gene drives are a technology that manipulate an animal’s biology to achieve desired outcomes, such as producing sterile offspring. This technology has the potential to combat infectious diseases like malaria by targeting disease-carrying insects.
Austin Burt introduced gene drives in 2003, and there has been ongoing debate surrounding their ecological impact. The U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine formed a committee to study the technology due to these concerns. Despite the potential benefits, the committee concluded that more evidence is needed before releasing gene-drive modified organisms into the environment.
During the training, journalists were educated on how to communicate scientific concepts to the public and were introduced to the concept of CRISPR by Diego Menendez. The use of simplified language is crucial in science journalism to ensure readers can understand complex topics. The event also delved into the political issues surrounding gene drives at international forums like the UN Convention on Biodiversity.
Barbara Ntambirweki highlighted Africa’s concerns about gene drives, especially in countries like Uganda where malaria remains a significant health threat. The Target Malaria Research consortium aims to reduce malaria transmission by releasing gene drive mosquitoes, but concerns have been raised about the lack of transparency in these trials. Nigeria, with its high malaria rate, could also become a testing ground for these experiments.
The training emphasized the ethical implications of gene drive research and the need for media scrutiny to hold research organizations accountable. By shedding light on these concerns, journalists can play a critical role in ensuring transparency and protecting African communities from potential exploitation. Overall, the training provided journalists with valuable insights into the complexities of gene drive technology and its implications for African societies.
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