BJ Baldeh
The sacked Health Minister Tamsir Mbowe was shamelessly seen helping President Yahya Jammeh at his clinic, where Mr.Jammeh announces a new medicine he discovered, which according to The Gambian leader cures infertility. The disgraced former Minister who appeared quiet could be seen busy helping the President to attend to his new batch of patients. President Jammeh who self-styled himself with the name “The Medical Myth Booster” has started treating infertility, making it free for Gambians and non Gambians paying the price of their infertility, which had started from the Guinean woman who did not adhere to Jammeh’s call for being serious about her treatment. Already about 700 barren women have showed up to be cured by President Jammeh. The women said they were in a dare need of a child and looked forward to being cured by President Jammeh.
President Jammeh has told the 700 barren women that his newly discovered medicine was only meant for barren married women who cannot conceive. He said non Gambians interested in getting cured, most pay for their treatment, otherwise they would not benefit from his medication. Over one thousand people had given their names to be cured, but 700 were accepted. The remaining patients were asked to wait until Mr.Jammeh finishes attending the first batch of patients.
President Jammeh’s announcement of finding cure for infertility had brought new a sense of hope amongst barren women. A fake hope for that matter, as many observers here seriously doubted President Jammeh’s ability to cure infertility. The wife of The Gambian leader was flown to the US to deliver recently. President Jammeh also sat for many years before he could father another child. Whether he is a cured barren, is a question lingering in minds of many here. Jammeh sat for five good years before he could impregnate his wife. “ He now have the guts to talk about of infertility when he struggled over the years to get a baby. Is he trying to mock barren Gambians? Come on…. Jammeh is not serious. He needs to find something worthwhile and stop this folishness. Excuse me for my language, but Jammeh is a damn fool. A big fool for that matter.” said an observer.
Infertility is a major health problem in The Gambia. Many men divorced their wives due to infertility. Women folks who married to barren men often throw their marital towel and look for another men. With Jammeh claiming to have cure for the disease, there is bound to be sign of relief amongst those affected by this dreadful disease.
The sacked Minister was seen performing his usual duties by helping the MMB to administer his medication. But Dr. Mbowe was totally quiet not as before where he would give the CD Count as low or still high with the AIDS patients.
Many women became afraid of the said treatment, which is seen by the refusal of all the 1200 who had given their names. One of them Fatou Jallow said she could not bear the color of the said medication that Jammeh gave to his patients. The patients were handed with big cups filled with Jammeh’s drugs.
"I wonder if the new doctors just graduating about 12 of them will have any work to do with fertility since the President is taking care of them now ahead of them.' Says an old lady.
Another man said Jammeh should also cure some of the barren women's husbands. "They may be sick too. Don't blame the women alone” he said.
Dr.Mbowe has resurfaced once again. He was seen helping the President while hundreds of women lined up to be cured. Dr.Mbowe also attended to Jammeh’s HIV patients. Perhaps, the President will hire him to be the Chancellor of the Kanilai Health Foundation For Science.
Looking at his face, the sacked Minister appeared worried, weak and pale. He is yet to recover from his sacking. He is following the President out of desperation and fear.
It would be recalled that Dr.Mbowe was sacked, following allegations that he allowed a Lebanese businessman to sell expired rice to Gambians. The said Lebanese was said to be a close friend of Mbowe. “President Jammeh’s recent move to welcome Mbowe back suggests that he careless about the health of Gambians. Mbowe ought to have been charged and taken to court for his callous acts.” said the health official.