Rrose Selavy
2nd February 2007, 07:42 AM
Not a witch or a doctor......
A claim by Gambian President Yahya Jammeh that he can cure Aids in three days has been lambasted by a leading South African HIV/Aids specialist.
"I'm astonished. The danger of a president standing up [to say this] is shocking," Jerry Coovadia told the BBC. Mr Jammeh said last month he had begun treating 10 patients on Thursdays with secret medicinal herb ingredients.
President Jammeh, who says he can also cure asthma, made his announcement to a gathering of foreign diplomats last month.
"I can treat asthma and HIV/Aids... Within three days the person should be tested again and I can tell you that he/she will be negative," he said in a statement.
"I am not a witch doctor and in fact you cannot have a witch doctor. You are either a witch or a doctor."
To hear the full interview with Jerry Coovadia and more on Mr Jammeh's alleged healing powers tune in to the BBC World Service's Weekend Network Africa (http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/networkafrica)on Saturday 3 February 2007.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/world/africa/6323449.stm
A claim by Gambian President Yahya Jammeh that he can cure Aids in three days has been lambasted by a leading South African HIV/Aids specialist.
"I'm astonished. The danger of a president standing up [to say this] is shocking," Jerry Coovadia told the BBC. Mr Jammeh said last month he had begun treating 10 patients on Thursdays with secret medicinal herb ingredients.
President Jammeh, who says he can also cure asthma, made his announcement to a gathering of foreign diplomats last month.
"I can treat asthma and HIV/Aids... Within three days the person should be tested again and I can tell you that he/she will be negative," he said in a statement.
"I am not a witch doctor and in fact you cannot have a witch doctor. You are either a witch or a doctor."
To hear the full interview with Jerry Coovadia and more on Mr Jammeh's alleged healing powers tune in to the BBC World Service's Weekend Network Africa (http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/networkafrica)on Saturday 3 February 2007.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/world/africa/6323449.stm