A fund-raising agreement for the President’s HIV/AIDS Trust Fund was on Friday signed between the Ministerial Task Force Committee and the Sound City- a music agency in The Gambia, at a ceremony held at the Department of State for Communications and Information Technology, in Kanifing.

Neneh Macdouall-Gaye, Secretary of State for Communications and Information Technology, who is the chairperson of the Task Force Committee, and Dr Tamsir Mbowe, Secretary of State for Health and Social Welfare, jointly signed the agreement on behalf of the committee, while Mabu Touray, Proprietor of Sound City and Baboucarr Jatta, a businessman, signed on behalf of Sound City.

The signing agreement jelled, following a several request made to the Office of the President, by groups interested in supporting President Jammeh’s HIV/AIDS and other treatment programmes. To this end, Sound City will steer up preparation for the Senegalese Ndaga maestro to perform at a gala dinner on November 24.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, which was also witnessed by Thione Secka, Secretary of State Macdouall-Gaye described the move as patriotic, adding that the President’s HIV/AIDS and other treatment programmes are a “tremendous success”.

She paid tribute to the President for his compassion and love for Gambians, stressing that he is not administering the treatment for fame or money.

She informed the ceremony that the President personally incurred the cost involved in the programme, covering fixed daily feeding of the patients and other items.

SoS Macdouall-Gaye described the President traditional knowledge of medicine as “a gift from God”, which he shares with Gambians and the rest of the world.

The Task Force Committee Chairperson then welcomed the signing agreement and commended the parties for the initiative. She assured her committee’s resolve to work hand-in-glove with the team to facilitate the event.

She used the opportunity to warn against using the President’s name for “funny games”, emphasising that this would not be condoned.

She reassured Sound City of their commitment at anytime. She thanked them on behalf of President Jammeh and her committee, and then wished them a successful event.

Health and Social Welfare, SoS Dr Tamsir Mbowe, who also thanked the team for the initiative, said all the doubts surrounding the President’s treatment have been cleared. He maintained that the President has found medicines that have the potents to cure HIV/AIDS and other diseases.

He then implored other Gambians to emulate the move, saying that the proceeds will help raise the health status of Gambians.

Marie Saine Firdaus, Attorney-General and Secretary of State for Justice, amplified that the initiative is a noble cause and assured that they will work with the team to realise their objectives.

In a brief statement, Mabu Touray, Proprietor of Sound City, said they felt obliged as Gambians to contribute to the President’s treatment programme.

For his part, Thione Secka, who is well-rooted in Senegambian music, disclosed that he has composed a new song, which is dedicated to President Jammeh, saying that efforts are in high gears to record it into a music clip.

He expressed fascination with the President’s empowerment of Gambian women, noting that this is evident in the composition of his Cabinet.

Thione, who promised to revive his acoustic talents on the night after 21 years, affirmed his commitment to a successful fund-raising event.

Baoucarr Jatta, who spoke earlier on, told the Task Force Committee that they will abide by the contents of the agreement, confirming that they want to organise the event in a grand style. He also condemned those who are bent on using the President’s name for ulterior motives.

Ebrima Corr, of the Office the President, who is also a member of the committee, chaired the ceremony.