2007年VOA标准英语-Gambian President Holds Sessions to 'Cure AIDS'

By Kari Barber
Banjul, Gambia
21 February 2007

In a continent suffering from the AIDS epidemic¹, Gambian President Yayah Jammeh's claims of a cure for the disease are alarming public health workers already struggling against faith-healers dispensing² herbal remedies. The biggest concern is that he requires patients to cease anti-retroviral drugs. Kari Barber traveled to Banjul to see Mr. Jammeh perform his self-proclaimed AIDS treatment and has this report for VOA.

 
President Yahya Jammeh pours his secret herbal remedy to treat HIV/AIDS patients
Patients of Mr. Jammeh's HIV/AIDS treatment line up to receive their twice-weekly herbal remedy, as cameras from national and international media snap photos and take video of the procedure.

The patients are at the end of their one-month treatment. Many say they are feeling better.

President Jammeh says he is not concerned about skeptics who say what he is doing is dangerous.

"I am not here to prove to anybody anything," he said. "I am here to treat HIV patients and Gambians for that matter. It is not only HIV/AIDS, but asthma³."

"Western medicine says you can not cure asthma; I cure asthma in five minutes. So whether there are doubts, I am not here to prove it to anybody," he added.

President Jammeh says according to blood tests his patients are getting better and some, he says, have been cured.

 
President Yahya Jammeh treats HIV/AIDS patient Lamin Ceesay with herbal
remedy
Patient Lamin Ceesay says he is not getting updates on his blood counts.

But he says he has stopped taking anti-retroviral drugs, or ARVs, which are used around the world to delay the onset⁴ of AIDS in HIV positive patients. President Jammeh forbids his patients to take ARVs.

He said, "I am not afraid because I believe, as according to what the president said, that he is certain of his herbal medicine, that he can cure HIV and that if you are on ARVs and you start his treatment, you have to stop them and only use his herbs."

Gambian journalist Demba Jawo left the country last year amid intimidation⁵ against independent reporters. He says is not surprised by Mr. Jammeh's claims.

"Knowing the type of person President Jammeh is, I know that he has all of the confidence that he has the cure for this disease, even though he has never been a medical practitioner," he said. "He has absolutely no qualifications as far as medicine is concerned."

Jawo says HIV/AIDS sufferers coming forward are being victimized by their own government, and that they need outside help.

He said, "The role of the international community is to come to the aid of AIDS victims and other Gambians who are sort of being duped into believing Jammeh has the cure for this disease."

"I have no doubt that most of those people who are appearing daily on Gambian television receiving his treatment are compelled by circumstances to do so. Left alone, I am sure most of them would not have come out to show the rest of the country that they are AIDS sufferers," he continued.

 
Gambian President Yahya Jammeh performs herbal HIV/AIDS treatment on Lamin Ceesay
Despite concerns about the safety of his practices, those suffering from HIV/AIDS wait hours in line at Mr. Jammeh's clinic to be chosen for treatment by the president.

Patients must agree to abide⁶ by a strict diet, live in a secluded⁷ compound, and stop taking anti-retroviral medications if they want the president's remedy.

President Jammeh has refused to allow samples of his herbs to be taken out of The Gambia for international testing.

Mr. Jammeh, who recently won re-election, says he plans to remain in power for several decades.

1 epidemic   

n.流行病；盛行；adj.流行性的，流传极广的

参考例句：

• That kind of epidemic disease has long been stamped out.那种传染病早已绝迹。
• The authorities tried to localise the epidemic.当局试图把流行病限制在局部范围。

2 dispensing   

v.分配( dispense的现在分词 )；施与；配（药）

参考例句：

• A dispensing optician supplies glasses, but doesn't test your eyes. 配镜师为你提供眼镜，但不检查眼睛。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The firm has been dispensing ointments. 本公司配制药膏。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 asthma   

n.气喘病，哮喘病

参考例句：

• I think he's having an asthma attack.我想他现在是哮喘病发作了。
• Its presence in allergic asthma is well known.它在过敏性气喘中的存在是大家很熟悉的。

4 onset   

n.进攻，袭击，开始，突然开始

参考例句：

• The drug must be taken from the onset of the infection.这种药必须在感染的最初期就开始服用。
• Our troops withstood the onset of the enemy.我们的部队抵挡住了敌人的进攻。

5 intimidation   

n.恐吓，威胁

参考例句：

• The Opposition alleged voter intimidation by the army.反对党声称投票者受到军方的恐吓。
• The gang silenced witnesses by intimidation.恶帮用恐吓的手段使得证人不敢说话。

6 abide   

vi.遵守；坚持；vt.忍受

参考例句：

• You must abide by the results of your mistakes.你必须承担你的错误所造成的后果。
• If you join the club,you have to abide by its rules.如果你参加俱乐部，你就得遵守它的规章。

7 secluded   

adj.与世隔绝的；隐退的；偏僻的v.使隔开，使隐退( seclude的过去式和过去分词)

参考例句：

• Some people like to strip themselves naked while they have a swim in a secluded place. 一些人当他们在隐蔽的地方游泳时，喜欢把衣服脱光。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• This charming cottage dates back to the 15th century and is as pretty as a picture, with its thatched roof and secluded garden. 这所美丽的村舍是15世纪时的建筑，有茅草房顶和宁静的花园，漂亮极了，简直和画上一样。 来自《简明英汉词典》