Dr. Supari is a member of the Executive Board of the World Health Organisation. She has not be criticised by the Director-General of the World Health Organisation for accusing the US of planning to use H5N1 as a biological weapon. In fact, most public health officials have said nothing to counter her suggestion.
The report begins with:
Health Minister Siti Fadillah Supari on Friday called the country’s medical institutions to carry out their own virus and DNA research free of foreign funding so as to avoid exploitation from developed countries and the possibility of a future biological attack against the nation.
“I’m truly afraid the world will use our viruses or DNAs to create a mass biological weapon that may be used to attack us,†she said.
Supari surprised the world when she abruptly stopped sending bird flu virus samples to the World Health Organization in 2007. Supari said the WHO wanted the virus to create an effective bird flu vaccine using the Indonesian strain but offered nothing in return.
and
“Trust me on this one, there is no such thing as free help. When people offer big money to help you, they undoubtedly expect to benefit from it,†Supari said.
Great going. Individual countries, 3rd world countries like our own country must be responsible for our own research and development. We need to look after our own people.
Philippine Department of Health… are you reading this?