Gambian President Yahya Jammeh’s claim before a gathering of foreign diplomats that he can cure HIV/Aids in three days ought to be critically examined. In a continent where an estimated 2 million people have already perished from the epidemic, responsible leadership calls for a sober verification of the claim.

President Yahya, should come out in the open, make known his herbs, outline their active ingredients and explicate his methodology to the world. Let him allow it to be subjected to independent international scrutiny.  As he does it, his intellectual property rights should be guarded from abuse.

There are many cases in Africa where HIV/Aids victims are subjected to exploitation by religious and traditional healers.  Cashing on their desperation, these opportunists extort huge fortunes from them and direct them to “special” clinics for screening, where they are declared aids-free. 

It is estimated that the cost of developing a new drug and bringing it to the market is over $350 million and the process may take 10 years. If Yahya has discovered a shortcut that is relatively cheap, and is proven to work, he should go ahead and commercialize it. Very soon, he will be Africa’s trillionaire!

President Yahya’s explanation will enable Africans make informed choices because human life should not be gambled with. Above all, Africans should be empowered economically. This will make it easier to access drugs; make choices and access information that will make them healthy. This issue examines socio-political and economic empowerment and the factors impeding it.