By Awa DK Conteh
Madam Fatou Jatta, a victim of Yahya Jammeh's controversial HIV/AIDS Treatment Programme recently appeared before the TRRC to give account of her ordeal and experience with the programme.
The witness said she was the first female to have come out in public with her HIV AIDS status and was receiving treatment from MRC. Since 1995 she has been living with AIDS but also sensitising, educating and convincing others to get tested.
She told the Commission she was part of the Santa Yalla Support Society, which helps people living with the HIV/AIDS. The Society, she intimated had a home-based care for the chronically sick.
Mrs Jatta recalled the day they (members of Santa Yalla and Nganiya Kiling Support Society based in Brikama, the only two that existed then) were told that the former President Yahya Jammeh wanted to have a meeting with them at State House.
Upon arrival at State House Jammeh told them to have a family photo, and that after the meeting Yahya Jammeh sent a carton of 1.5 litre bottles containing herbs said to be a cure for HIV AIDS. “On the 18th February, 2007, while in my house, my coordinator called me and told me she had a problem because she received a call from VP's office that Yahya Jammeh said I should select 10 people for him that he would start administering HIV treatment on, the following day," she said. She recalled that it was announced over the news that the former President would start treating HIV/AIDS.
The witness further testified that on the 19th of January, 2007, a vehicle from State House took them to State House, where they were received by Isatou Njie Saidy while Dr. Malick Njie did the consultations.
“When the President arrived, he outlined his conditions among which was, the patient would stop using Western medicine, not drink ‘attaya’, or chew kolanut”.She said she could not remember being asked of her consent before her details were taken.
Ms. Jatta informed the Commission that while the consultations were ongoing, the camera was filming and some of the victims started to cover their faces but Dr. Malick Njie told them that they needed not because the President was not going to play it on the TV but rather use it for reference purposes.
According to her what surprised her was that there was a screen mounted while they were told to undress and put on a towel and later told to lay on the stretcher while Yahya Jammeh sprinkled spiritual water on their bodies. “He told me to lay on my back and he took a bottle of oil and massaged my body including my private part. Thereafter he took almost half a litre and told me to drink after which I became unconscious”.
The witness said before taking the medicine her CD4 was 1,250 – which meant her immune system was very good. "Prior to taking Jammeh's medicine I was healthy and strong but the moment I started the concoction I suffered as I was stressed," said Jatta.
The witness said she eventually decided to leave because he did not want to continue to lie to the world that the treatment was true.
She informed the Commission that the treatment was administered at State House but they were kept at Kanifing Hospital (now Serrekunda General Hospital). Sometimes, we were kept at State House till 2am or even spend the whole night awake.
Ms Jatta further testified that if there were festivals, they used to attend after being given the medicine and in the process or jubilation, they would be paraded as people receiving treatment from Jammeh.