After a much anticipated showy folklore, Senegambia Beach Hotel played host to Goudi Ndanaan on Saturday night, flavoured with lively live-performances by celebrity artists from both The Gambia and Senegal; and by exuberant senior school pupils.

The event attracted many artists, including the main musical guest Thione Balago Seck, Mam Tamsir Njie, Kabekel, Jali Mamoudou Suso, Group Soningkara, Medina, Sabach, Musa Ngum, Jollof Man, Samba Jere Samba, among others. It was organised to raise funds for President Jammeh’s HIV/AIDS Trust Fund and other treatment programmes.

President Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh was represented at the gala dinner by Neneh Macdouall-Gaye, secretary of state for Communications and Information Technology, who is also the chairperson of the ministerial technical committee of the President’s HIV/AIDS Trust Fund.

Marie Saine-Firdaus, attorney general and secretary of state for Justice, and Dr Malick Njie, secretary of state for Health and Social Welfare - both members of the technical committee - also graced the event. The response of government parastatals, members of the private sector, and individuals was remarkable.

Senegambian fashion designs were fully on display, as both men and women elegantly dressed in cultural outfits to give the night its African flavour. It was reminiscent of those glorious days when culture and its accompanying goodnesses were deep rooted in all aspects of Senegambian society, regardless of diversity.

Thione Balago Seck, thrilled the colourful crowd with a song composed in adoration of the Gambian leadership and his compassion for humanity.

In her speech the Secretary of State Macdouall-Gaye described Gambians as an appreciative people, saying that this was evident in the impressive turnout to the gala dinner.

She recalled January 2007, when President Jammeh began to treat people living with HIV/AIDS, and those with other diseases such as asthma, hypertension, diabetic, and more recently infertility.

“These are medical problems that have been known to be incurable. Therefore, we Gambians have a lot to thank the Almighty for. On the soils of one of the smallest countries in the world, these diseases and ailments are being cured by no one else but the man who holds the highest office in the country. This man puts aside all comforts, rolls up his sleeves, day-in-day out, and attends to vulnerable men, women and children in the midst of a busy schedule,” she said.

She then continued: “He comforts them, eats with them, plays with them, administers his founded medication to them. In addition, he provides them with accommodation, food, toiletries and other necessities, and all these at his own expense”.

Noting that its “heart warming” to see Gambians take initiatives to support this worthy cause, the Communications and Information Technology Secretary of State Macdouall-Gaye thanked Mabu Touray of Sound City for organising the event to support the president’s HIV/AIDS treatment programme. She also thanked Mr Touray’s associate, Baboucarr Jatta and all the Senegalese and Gambian artists who supported the cause.

Health and Social Welfare Secretary of State, Dr Malick Njie, told the gathering that President Jammeh amazed everyone, including the scientific world, when he declared his intention to treat people living with HIV/AIDS, which followed the treatment of the first batch of nine patients, with a dramatic reduction of their viral loads. “He treated them, accommodated them and transported them.”

“Unlike us the modern doctors”, SoS Njie continued, “The president does not charge a penny for the services he renders”.

Like SoS Macdouall-Gaye, Dr Njie elaborated on the president’s recent treatment programmes comprising diabetes, hypertension, and infertility.

“Your money will not be wasted. It is going to be used to treat your sisters, your brothers, and our brothers and our sisters from around Africa,” he concluded.

Baboucarr Jatta, social secretary of Sound City, who delivered the vote thanks, expressed gratitude to President Jammeh and the ministerial technical committee for their support.

Mr Jatta, also expressed their delight at the level of support, then commended government parastatals, the private sector and individuals for their patronage.