- Gambian President Yahya Jammeh has fired the Health Minister from office.
Dr. Tamsir Mbowe was replaced by Dr. Malick Njie, who was the Director of Health Services at the time of the appointment.
The new minister was formerly a medical army officer who was once incacerated in the main central prison in Mile II.
The fired minister [a gynaecologist] had been at the receiving end of rights activists who accused him of compromising the ethics of the medical profession by defending President Jammeh's controversial HIV/AIDS cure claim in March this year.
Gambian leader attracted the world attention in January this year when he went public that he could cure the incurable disease and astthma using the Quran and banana leaves within a short period. This generated stormy condemnations in the world.
A UN diplomat was expelled from The Gambia for questioning Jammeh's AIDS cure.
But Jammeh's Health Minister had confirmed the cure claims. He did not only vigorously promote Jammeh's medical capabilities, but he also served as the coordinator of the cure sessions.
The firing of the country's stooge and most loyal minister has left most Gambians dumbfounded.
The government is yet to explain the reasons or circumstances surrounding the firing.
However, it was rumoured from some quarters that Jammeh was annoyed with Dr. Mbowe's sideline comments that the AIDS cure was gathering a mere storm.
Mbowe was trained in Russian and Ireland before returning home to take up different positions in The Gambia's health ministry.
Most Gambians are waiting to see whether the new minister will sacrifice his professionalism just like Dr. Mbowe. Njie took oath of office and allegiance on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, President Jammeh has added other diseases [diabetes and hypertension] to his cure list.
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