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kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
 Posted - 28 Nov 2007 : 18:09:18
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Updates from The Daily Observer Newspaper; Re: bursting the medical myth under http://www.observer.gm/africa/gambia/article/2007/11/28/re-bursting-the-medical-myth
EXTRACTS
"This is why the surge of violent and reprehensible response we got from enemies of progress when small Gambia announced the imminent cure for HIV/AIDS, was not at all surprising. In the case of this hitherto mystery disease, however, there is more to it than mere grudge.
When he announced his new-found cure, President Jammeh, in effect, formerly presented a potential rival to the hitherto western- monopolized multi-billion dollar pharmaceutical industry. There was no way that he was going to be left alone. The manner of the response of the critics was enough of a reason in itself as to their motive.
Regardless of the discernible, impressive outcome of the treatment, the animosity towards it continues; both within and outside the country. But God willing, history, like it has already done with past great men, shall eventually confer its judgment on the issue of President Jammeh. "
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sisay
48 Posts |
Posted - 10 Dec 2007 : 06:55:06
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Just before World Aids Day (1st December) this year, President Jammeh made a tactical move by appointing Dr Tamsir Mbowe the Director General of his HIV/AIDS/Asthma/Diabetes/Hypertension treatment programme (See article in Daily Observer).
Earlier this year he sacked Dr Mbowe as Health Minister over some sideline comments recommending the president to present some proof that his claimed cure works. Dr Mbowe, who is also a medical practitioner, was Jammeh's greatest support in declaring the sham cure to the world as a 'medically proven' remedy. His sacking was a foolish move by the president and was condemned in the Gambia Echo.
Jammeh realised his mistake but could not reinstate Dr Mbowe after appointing Malick Njie the new Health Minister. He therefore created the position of Director General for Mr Mbowe in an attempted coverup or rationalisation of the impulsive sacking.
Mbowe's sacking as Health Minister was not the only case of impulsive sacking instigated by Jammeh. Earlier the United Nations Chief Delegate in Gambia, Fadzai Gwaradzimba, was expelled from Gambia over expressing her opinion that education should be a part of the AIDS effort and that she was concerned that without it young Gambians might engage in risky behaviour, believing that they were cured of the disease. She had a valid point: lack of education accounts for much of the AIDS crisis. It is estimated that only 12% of adults know their HIV/AIDS status and the country's population has proven to be largely ignorant of the way the virus is spread.
Before his sacking, Mbowe managed to set up a page on the Government website attempting to provide proof to the world of the efficacy of the president's herbal concoction. The proof consisted solely of several accounts from patients who hailed their support for the cure. Consider the great number of people infected by HIV, and Jammeh's own claim that hundreds have received his treatment. How is this tiny sample of patients adequate to prove its efficacy on so many? If several hundred patients received this treatment, why were there not many more included in this follow-up? Even so, these verbal accounts of patients are considered to be "anecdotal evidence": the weakest type of evidence, which cannot substantiate anything on its own. These verbal accounts were not substantiated by any blood results taken at regular intervals or any other solid evidence. Not to mention that the survey was conducted by Jammeh and his staff, which are in a position of huge power. Therefore the patients cannot be considered free to express any doubts or concerns as to the efficacy of this treatment. Lastly, the length of time that the remedy has been evaluated is nowhere near sufficient to prove its efficacy by any standards. The cure would need to be shown to work in the long term.
Following such criticism, Jammeh arranged to display results of approximately 70 patients who allegedly received his herbal concoction (See them here). There is no before/after comparison and no discussion of these results - only two tables with patient's names and a number meant to represent either Viral Load or CD5 levels. The unit of measurement is not even given a mention. These tables are only aimed at creating confusion in attempt to fool Gambians into thinking there are some positive lab results to prove his claim. If there was any truth in Jammeh's claims, there would have been independent researchers commissioned to take an extended study involving independent lab results of the participants of the study before, during and at several stages after treatment.
Jammeh's full disclosure of the names of patients he gave this concoction to is also a blatant disrespect for the privacy and dignity of these individuals. Jammeh may indeed be able to receive consent by a very small number of HIV patients to disclose their identity, but I highly doubt the majority of Gambians treated for HIV would agree to having their HIV status published on a public website.
At the instigation of other officials, there was an HIV awareness campaign launched on World Aids Day. However, this has been a token gesture taking place at a petrol station in Kololi. There have been no ongoing efforts at HIV prevention education. Without this measure, thousands of Gambians will continue to be infected with the virus every year.
On 29th November, Jammeh again disgraced the country by announcing that he could cure infertility by driving away the evil spirits that cause it. Again he used Dr Tamsir Mbowe to support his claims. Here is the Gambia Echo report.
If there was any appropriate time to release proof and show support for the world HIV/AIDS crisis, it would have been this World Aids Day. However, there were no such measures taken either in actions or words.
As President, Jammeh claims to be conversing with God and receiving knowledge directly from Him on curing a range of illnesses which began with HIV and AIDS but now includes asthma, hypertension, diabetes and infertility. And he expects not only Gambians, but indeed the rest of the world, to believe this with not a shred of real evidence. These delusions of grandeur, coupled with his threats and expulsions of people expressing any concerns on the subject, have caused many people (a large number of Gambians among them) to publicly declare him insane on reputable newspapers and news blogs.
However, I don't for one minute believe that this is anything more than massive arrogance and hypocrisy on his part. Jammeh repeatedly tells the Gambian people that thanks to him Gambia's medical treatment facilities have become world class. Yet, he takes his family to the United States for basic medical treatment, such as his wife's labour! There was a scandal over his misinforming the American authorities about his presidency (read the report in the Freedom Newspaper. It is alleged that he did so deliberately in an attempt to have his US born daughter become a US citizen. This would allow his family to migrate should he lose his presidency and be held to account for his human rights crimes. Otherwise, children of diplomats and presidents cannot be given US citizenship. The question of his misinforming the American authorities has still not been addressed. There are many qualified medical practitioners in the Gambia, yet Jammeh wasted precious state resources to bring his wife to the United States and seek prolonged medical treatment for her there, despite every sign of an otherwise normal birth.
Another fact that many Gambians may not be aware is that his first daughter, now five years old, is attending the International School in the United States. Jammeh is quick to condemn the West (and USA in particular) in their cynicism over his herbal AIDS hoax-cure. However, he chooses to have his firstborn raised and educated in the same values as he criticises.
No, this is simply a matter of a hypocritical, arrogant dictator continuing to attempt to pull the wool over his people's eyes. |
Edited by - sisay on 10 Dec 2007 07:53:47 |
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jambo
3300 Posts |
Posted - 10 Dec 2007 : 09:57:23
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Thank you for keeping us informed,
"Another fact that many Gambians may not be aware is that his first daughter, now five years old, is attending the International School in the United States. Jammeh is quick to condemn the West (and USA in particular) in their cynicism over his herbal AIDS hoax-cure. However, he chooses to have his firstborn raised and educated in the same values as he criticises" says a lot
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kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
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kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
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