Ministers oppose baby cloning
2004-08-05 11:25
Pretoria - Cloning companies that want to garner support for baby cloning projects in South Africa are in for a surprise.
Dr Manto Tshabalala-Msimang and health ministers from 13 African countries, said on Tuesday they do not support this method of reproduction. This emerged after a special gathering of the South African Development Community.
The ministers are also concerned that companies that want to conduct cloning for therapeutic purposes would abuse women in Africa financially.
Tshabalala-Msimang said she knew nothing about the controversial Dr Brigitte Boisselier, president of Clonaid - a French cloning company - who claims a Pretoria woman is pregnant with the world's 14th cloned baby.
"I don't know who she is. I don't ask people how they got their babies. I only know one way - the normal way."
Clonaid has never been able to scientifically prove its baby cloning practises.
The ministers are also concerned about the moral, ethical and religious aspects of cloning.
The cloning of babies is against the law in South Africa and is prohibited by the World Health Organisation.
The new national health act does however, make provision for cloning for therapeutic purposes. This prohibits cloning of an entire organism but allows for the cloning of sells and organs for transplants.