WALFADJRI’S AUDIENCE CREDIT JAMMEH’S HIV CURE

Senegal’s public opinion and Islamic scholars, on Friday, gave credit to President Jammeh’s cure against HIV/AIDS. Jammeh’s cure was the debate during the broadcast Dinné aak Jamano presented on Dakar’s first private media group, Walfadjri, which comprises four radio stations, a satellite television and three daily newspapers.

Sidy Lamine Niasse, Walfadjri’s proprietor, moderated the show attended by eminent panellists as well as independent callers and viewers who ultimately screened the Gambian President’s discovery aimed at helping victims of the virus.

When setting the pace for the debate, Sidy Lamine Niasse, himself an Islamic scholar, well known in Senegal to be one of President Jammeh’s most radical critics, told the panellists - Dr Djiby Diakhaté, a professor at Dakar’s Cheikh Anta Diop University; Professor Ismaïla Dem, the chairman of the World Islamic League; Dr Mangum Ceesay, a well known Gambian Islamic scholar; Boubacar Diop, a Senegalese journalist and Islamic religion researcher and Thione Seck, the Senegalese international music star - to ensure that no stone is left unturned to enlighten

Walfadjri radio and television viewers and listeners around the world on the credibility of Jammeh’s cure for HIV/AIDS. Sidy Lamine Niasse reminded the panellists that the show is broadcasted on satellite and consequently watched and heard all around the world.

Jammeh’s credibility

Dr Mangum Ceesay recalled the first time he met then Lt Jammeh in 1994, shortly after the July 22 Revolution that brought him to power.

"Yahya Jammeh was in uniform surrounded by his colleagues who supported him during the takeover. I noticed at first glance that he had a small Holy Qur’an in his right hand. During our discussion, I discovered a young man with a complete determination to be an agent of welfare for his people. I have noticed ever since that he has always kept his promises and worked for the happiness of his people, exactly as recommended in Islam. In the Qur’an, you can’t have a better illustration of a man’s credibility," Dr Ceesay noted.

Dr Djiby Diakhaté another panellist and a professor at Dakar’s Cheikh Anta Diop University said; "The videos I watched on Jammeh’s cure for HIV/AIDS patients show a President who seems to be very close to his people. This form of leadership is no surprise to me as the indirect rule of the English colonial system has enabled people in countries like The Gambia to preserve as well as value their cultures and traditions contrary to countries like Senegal where the French colonial masters worked at assimilating people. To me, President Jammeh hasn’t lost his culture and was able to actualise its medical properties and cure diseases".

Boubacar Diop, a journalist and researcher in Islam said: "It is my view that God can vest any of his uncountable powers on any of his creatures. Questioning the credibility of Jammeh is not the debate. Jammeh is well and healthy and as far as I know, he was never proven mad or devilish. The question should be ‘how credible his medicine is?".

Thione Seck said: "Islam recommends that we make comments about people based on facts. I can ascertain here that the Gambian President is a man of generosity, truth and love for his people. Otherwise, there is no justification to explain his firm commitment to stand against the critics in the multinational medical industry known to be one of the world’s greatest lobby forces".

Jammeh’s HIV/AIDS cure

Professor Ismaïla Dem, the chairman of the World Islamic League said: "I have no doubt that President Jammeh’s cure is credible. It is stated in the Qur’an that every disease in the world has a cure. The Qur’an is God’s own word and God’s word never fails those who believe in it. God always says and it happens. I was told that the Gambian President is a good Muslim who cures his patients with herbs and Qur’anic verses.

Islam also accepts medical treatment with plants. We should invite Yahya Jammeh to help us share his valuable knowledge instead of questioning the credibility of his treatment”.

Answering Sidy Lamine Niasse’s question about the World Health Organisation’s doubts about Jammeh’s cure, Dr Djiby Diakhaté said: "While I acknowledge WHO’s efforts to promote health in the world, I have some reservations about the way this organisation treats certain matters. It is obvious that science cannot establish the absolute truth about germs and viruses as there are always updates on discoveries of germs that were believed to be completely known before.

The electronic microscope which uses intense light to detect the HIV virus is sometimes subject to controversy as such powerful light contains microscopic dusts fragments that may alter the composition or the genetic structure of the virus.

Therefore to say that Jammeh’s cure is mere fantasy because WHO does not have scientific proof of the composition and properties of his medicine is no appropriate scientific approach. I have not seen Jammeh’s cure’s properties does not mean that they do not exist or somebody else might not see them later".  According to him, it is written nowhere that all medical discoveries and inventions should come from the West.

"This is a black brother who, despite being a head of state and aware of the controversy he may raise, had courage and said I can cure AIDS. That alone deserves commendation. We should now seek his support to get his cure available for those in need and ensure that without Yahya Jammeh, the future generations can still continue what he began," Dr Diakhaté continued.

Thione Seck who walked into Walf TV studios with clips showing President Jammeh in action said, "Seeing is believing. I was right beside him [Jammeh] when he treated my wife who suffered from asthma. President Jammeh also treated many patients who came to see him after contracting the HIV virus. Some patients could not walk.

But immediately President Jammeh treated them, they walked out unsupported to my utter astonishment".

"My wife told me she felt what seemed to be heat going out of her back. Since then, she never suffered any complication and it is my belief that President Jammeh cured her" Thione Seck revealed.

Dr Mangum Ceesay said: "I am totally convinced that Jammeh can cure AIDS. You simply should go to The Gambia and see for yourself. President Jammeh’s therapy is mainly based on the Holy Qur’an. The Qur’an is God’s Holy Word. My answer to those who want proof of Jammeh’s cure is no laboratory equipment can test and get proof of God’s Word. He says and it happens. Jammeh has the merit to be very courageous and face the world with his cure".

Callers’ views

Dozens of callers intervened during the two-hour programme. They expressed pride at the Gambian President’s cure. One of them was Doctor Jacques Diop, a medic who works at Cheikh Anta Diop University. According to Dr Diop, the Western pharmaceutical industry would never accept Jammeh’s cure for one simple reason.

"These pharmaceutical industries enrich themselves with anti-retro viral drugs.

General estimates of this ARV trade state that over $12 billion is involved. How would you like them to adopt the Gambian President’s HIV cure and begin to lose all their advantages?" Dr Diop asked. According to him: "Thousands of Africans may die of the virus after lacking access to decent treatment.  This is why Jammeh’s cure is timely.

We should instead work with him to get the treatment accessible for all patients in the need".

In response, Thione Seck said "I have contacts for all those who need the Gambian President’s assistance. He is a man of generosity and he assured me that he would help all needy people. In fact I must insist here that Jammeh does not ask payment for his treatment. Instead, he hosts, treats and feeds all his patients at his own cost”.