The following from The Gambia Journal. I find it very sad.

Malanding

Gambia: Dr. Mbowe Guilty of Professional Irresponsibility



The Gambia Journal 
<http://allafrica.com/publishers.html?passed_name=The%20Gambia%20Journal&passed_location=Banjul> 
(Banjul)

EDITORIAL
January 29, 2007
Posted to the web January 29, 2007

The Gambia Secretary of State for Health, Dr. Tamsir Mbowe, has said he 
could not disclose the contents of the herbal potion concocted by 
President Jammeh to "cure" HIV/AIDS. In an interview with a BBC reporter 
Mr. Mbowe said that all necessary information on the treatment would be 
released later.

Asked where he thought President Jammeh, who has no medical background, 
acquired the knowledge and skill to "treat " the frightful disease, Mr. 
Mbowe said he was not quite sure but that the Gambian President's family 
"had long being treating people with skeletal or muscular ailments." He 
also argued that he did not think such skill or knowledge could not only 
come from universities but "from the Holy Koran as well." Asked if he 
could vouch that Mr. Jammeh's "treatments" worked, Mr. Mbowe said "we 
have to wait for the results."

The Secretary of State who television pictures showed assisting the 
mercurial Gambian leader "treating" the patients claimed that though 
they are still waiting for test results, claimed that clinical 
observations so far, have shown that the dozen or so patients who have 
started with the "treatment" have shown "noticeable improvements." Dr. 
Mbowe claimed that some of the patients have "gained up to seven 
kilograms in weight since treatment started." Mr. Mbowe could however 
not precisely say when the results of the laboratory tests were 
expected. Mr. Mbowe, who was a medical practitioner before he became 
Health Minister two years ago, denied the BBC reporter's suggestion that 
he and his boss, President Jammeh, were being irresponsible in raising 
an other false hope for the cure of the deadly disease.

As far as we at The Gambia Journal are concerned, Jammeh's quack-like 
claims are more than irresponsible. Surveys have shown that a good 
number of Gambians are yet to firmly believe in the existence of the 
HIV/AIDS disease. Without this realization by Gambians efforts to spread 
awareness and prevention would be hampered by formidable obstacles. The 
contention that Jammeh's weird claims is bound to evoke, may embolden 
disbelievers as they watch the disagreements grow within the camp of the 
"believers."

We are also worried at the unrestrained broadcast by GRTS television of 
the fully televised "treatment" rituals clearly disclosing the 
identities of the patients, almost certainly without their prior 
consent. We see this as a grave violation of the personal integrity of 
the patients. Jammeh and his henchmen at the Hospital seem to be 
completely mindless of the patients' rights to privacy, anonymity, 
respect and dignity. On national television, the unfortunate patients 
are compelled to answer to questions by President Jammeh about their 
stool, boils on private parts and so on. No consideration is given to 
their sense of shame. All that seem to matter for Jammeh and his men is 
the pretentious show, not the concern of others.

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