Dr Mbowe on PTP 3rd anniversary

Almost three years after The Gambian leader, His Excellency Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh proclaimed to the world of herbal medicine, his ability to treat several diseases and the formation of the Presidential Treatment Programme (PTP) that has seen the successful treatment of thousands of patients, officials are now set to celebrate the third anniversary of the treatment programme.  

The director general of the Presidential Treatment Programme, Dr Tamsir Mbowe in an exclusive interview with the Daily Observer yesterday at his clinic in Kanifing, spoke at length on the state of preparedness towards the successful celebration of the third anniversary of the treatment programme otherwise called the herbal medical breakthrough.

Scheduled for Sunday, January 17, 2010 in Kanilai, the birth place of the brainchild of the humanitarian initiative, Dr Mbowe told the Daily Observer that preparations for such a high profile celebration are in high gear, noting that everything is set to mark the day in grand style. “|t is going to be a very big celebration and we are inviting people from across the country and beyond, as well as our international patients,” he enthused.

He continued: “The celebration will be a grand style and a lot of surprises will be seen that day. The president who is the brainchild of the treatment will deliver a very powerful statement and to remind the whole world that medicine does not belong to an individual, country, institution or tribe or family. Medicine is very wide and that any individual in the world can come up with something to save the human race.”

As the medical practitioner who has been working with the president all along, the Mbowen clinic boss said he is leaving no stone unturned in terms of preparations for the grand occasion. He disclosed that the treatment programme team is extending invitation to all the patients that have undergone the treatment. He further disclosed that as part of the celebrations, there will be a parade by all the patients and drama team to entertain the audience, with renowned musicians also expected to attend. All these, he said, are in solidarity with President Jammeh for salvaging humanity from the scourge of terrible diseases.

The PTP director general went on to reiterate the significance of the treatment programme, saying that the medical breakthrough as it is called has broken the backbone of diseases given the fact that complicated diseases like the HIV/AIDS that were initially thought to be incurable are now curable thanks to President Jammeh. The beauty of medicine, he explained, “is the restoration of the sick back to health”, saying that any medical practitioner in any part of the world who comes up with any medical means to achieve this must be honoured. This, he said is what President Jammeh has been able to do, stressing that The Gambian leader has broken a medical record and that he has written his name in the history books of medicine.

Impact of PTP on health sector
The Presidential Treatment Programme, according to Dr Mbowe has impacted positively on the country’s health sector. He pointed out that bed occupancy in health facilities has significantly reduced since the inception of the treatment programme. "Beds which have been occupied by patients suffering from asthma, diabetes, hypertension and infertility are now being used by other patients in our respective facilities," he indicated, and added: "Voluntary Counselling and Testing has increased three to fourfold in our respective health facilities thanks to the president’s treatment.” He went on to explain that the increase in the VCT has been mainly due to the awareness created by the treatment.

Dr. Mbowe also said that monies which were used for the procurement of drugs and for the treatment and management of these diseases taken care of by the president are now being redirected for other medical purposes. “Patients who were suffering from HIV/AIDS are now back in their respective societies performing their respective social responsibilities. Marriages have been tightened now thanks to the infertility treatment. Initially there were these divorce cases and social problems within families, but when they started coming for this treatment, marriages became smoother and people became happier,” he posited.

The Presidential Treatment director general also revealed to the Daily Observer that the president is single-handedly sponsoring the treatment programme, and that a huge sum of money is invested in the treatment. He used the opportunity to thank President Jammeh for coming up with medical herbs that have the potential to treat patients with complicated ailments. In the same vein, he also thanked the team of courageous personalities of the treatment programme, the parents and relatives of the patients and all those who contributed to the treatment programme in one way or the other. He said he expects the participation of the entire general public in the country and beyond in the third anniversary, celebrations, assuring the masses that they will be taken care of at the occasion.

Background
It could be recalled that the Presidential Treatment Programme, sanctioned by President Jammeh as part of his crusade of saving humanity from the scourge of complicated diseases started on 17 January, 2007. Since the inception of the treatment programme, thousands of patients have undergone different treatment as can be attested to by all. Most of these patients, among them non-Gambians, have now gone back to their respective societies and are performing their respective social responsibilities. Earlier reports gathered last year revealed that over six thousand patients have benefited from the treatment programme.