第45話 抗マラリア薬を制する者は、アフリカを制する
文字数 8,390文字
Can I ask you one thing?
Sure.
I'm curious about your question to Saeki.
Which question is it?
The question is, "Does the Japanese government plan to use Mr. Wakura's new drug to support Africa?" Why did you ask such a thing?
There is competition among the great powers to expand their influence on Africa. And antimalarial drugs are the decisive factor for competitive advantage.
The new antimalarial drug developed by Mr. Wakura is more effective than conventional antimalarial drugs, and the manufacturing cost is much lower.
So that's it. Originally, it is a medicine that can be made cheaply. If the Japanese government provides financial support, it can be provided to Africa at a low price.
Malaria has caused more than 200 million patients and more than 400,000 deaths worldwide. And 90% of the patients and deaths are from Africa.
WHOの推定では、マラリアは2017年時点で全世界で2億1,900万人の患者と435,000人の死者を出しています。この患者数の92％、死亡者数の93％がアフリカの人々です。全世界でマラリアが原因で亡くなった方たちの61％は、免疫力を持たない5歳未満の子どもたちです。
WHO estimates that malaria has resulted in 219 million cases and 435,000 deaths worldwide as of 2017. 92% of the cases and 93% of the deaths are from Africa. Sixty-one percent of people worldwide who die from malaria are children under the age of five who are not immune
（出典）厚生労働省検疫所『マラリアについて（ファクトシート）』https://www.forth.go.jp/moreinfo/topics/20190628.html
抗マラリア薬は複数種類ありますが、貧しい人たちの手が届く価格では提供されていません。ワクチンも開発されていますが、子どもに４回接種して40パーセントの子どもに効果が出る段階なのでマラリア撲滅の決定打には至っていません。
There are several types of antimalarial drugs, but they are not offered at a price that is affordable to the poor. Vaccines have also been developed, but they have not been decisive for eradicating malaria because they are in the stage of being effective in 40% of children by inoculating them four times.
（出典）NCBI(National Center for Bioltechnology Information『The Cost and Cost-Effectiveness of Antimalarial Drugs』
That's right. Therefore, it is not an exaggeration to say that "whoever controls antimalarial drugs controls Africa."
The Japanese government has plans to promote preventive treatment using Japanese products and services in Africa in collaboration with NGOs and hospitals. The government also plans to provide financial support.
https://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXMZO48279280W9A800C1EE8000/
If the Japanese government succeeds in advancing into preventive medicine, the next target is the therapeutic field. At that time, the low-cost and highly effective antimalarial drug developed by Wakura will become an important weapon.
But why is Africa so important? Africa reminds me only of the savanna where giraffes and elephants are walking.
Don't forget lions.
（注）上記の経済成長予測はCOVID19の流行以前のものです。
Africa currently has a population of 1.2 billion. That is expected to double to 2.4 billion by 2050. It is said that the economic growth rate will reach the 4% level in 2020.
(Note) The above economic growth forecast is before the COVID 19 epidemic.
I see. Africa is expected to be a huge market in the future. Those who want to make money will not miss it.
The Chinese government is providing a huge amount of financial assistance to Africa, focusing on infrastructure development such as roads and ports.
I've heard that Chinese companies have invested about 10 trillion yen in China in the six years from 2013 to 2018.
China attaches great importance to Africa not only for business, but also for diplomacy. Africa has a large number of countries. Supporting Africa makes it easier to obtain support from African countries by UN resolution. For China, which tends to confront the West, African countries are a strong ally in the United Nations.
The United States and Japan are also making efforts to intensify their influence over African countries, aren't they?
Regardless of their efforts, both the United States and Japan are completely left far behind.
NATO欧州連合軍最高司令官の経験者が、中国のアフリカ進出を警戒する意見を日本の新聞に寄稿してるくらいっす。
A former chief of NATO Supreme Headquarters of the European Union has contributed to a Japanese newspaper an opinion that warns China of expanding into Africa.
https://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXMZO56191010Y0A220C2TCR000/
アフリカ支援に出遅れた日本は、医療分野で中国に対抗する考えなわけだ。
だけど、佐伯は警察庁の人間だろ。どうして、アフリカ支援になんか、首を突っ込むんだ。
Japan, which has been late for supporting Africa, is thinking of competing with China in the medical field.
However, Saeki is a person from the National Police Agency. Why does he poke his head in support of Africa?
Saeki was kicked out of the public security field, a career advancement course for police bureaucrats.
But he hasn't given up on his career yet.
That's right. Saeki is trying to create a chance of a one-shot reversal by taking advantage of the connections with his synchronous officials of other ministries.
He is just arrogant to us, the civilians, but he seems to be kind to his fellow officials.
It's not humane, it's calculated. It's worth using for fellow officials.
It is likely that Saeki is planning something to support medical care in Africa in collaboration with his fellow bureaucrats in Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare.
There are limits to what officials can do alone. It seems that he has the backing of a leading politician.
That's why I asked Saeki if Japanese government would use the antimalarial drug developed by Mr. Wakura to support Africa.
He threatened us by saying something like, "If you poke your neck in an extra thing, you'll stuff it in concrete and sink it in Tokyo Bay." He admitted that Setsuna-san was correct.
Saeki is not good at poker face even though he is a police bureaucrat. Therefore, when we poke the truth, he tries to silence us by threatening us.
You sound like you know Saeki well.
Actually, I was involved once before. It's an experience I don't want to remember too much.
Nothing good has ever happened to me when I was involved with Saeki.
It sounds like Setsuna-san was more involved than Kotaro-san.
Saeki was my boss when I was in the Living Economy Division of the Life Safety Department of the Metropolitan Police Department.
It would be hard to have such a bastard as your boss. You endured it well. No, you could not endure him. That's why you quit the police, isn't it?
I will remain silent.
If Setsuna-san's guess is correct, it may be a chance for us.
What do you mean?
We could use Saeki as a breakwater against organ traffickers and Euke -Les-Let.
You’ve come up with something ridiculous. However, I feel like it's not a bad story.
I agree.
Yeah, right.
おい、おい、ちょっと待て。あたしには、話が見えないぞ。
Hey, hey, wait a minute. I can't understand what you guys are talking about.
