Around 50,000 people in Uganda were allegedly convinced by an American pastor to consume a so-called “miracle cure” for HIV/AIDS. The problem is the said substance was already flagged down by the United States Food and Drug Administration about a decade ago.
The Guardian broke the news over the weekend claiming that pastor Robert Baldwin has been receiving funding from known English clairvoyant Sam Little. Baldwin reportedly runs a network that targeted 50,000 Ugandans in convincing them the miracle cure — a.k.a. Miracle Mineral Solutions (MMS) — can cure HIV/AIDS and other fatal diseases like malaria.
The U.S. Mission Uganda has since addressed the issue. “We strongly condemn the distribution of this substance, which is extremely dangerous and is NOT a cure for any disease,” the institution wrote on its official Twitter page.
The U.S. Mission is aware of reports that an American pastor based remotely is distributing a substance called “Miracle Mineral Solution” to churches in Uganda. We strongly condemn the distribution of this substance, which is extremely dangerous and is NOT a cure for any disease.
— U.S. Mission Uganda (@usmissionuganda) May 20, 2019
Baldwin reportedly imports MMS from China and distributes it in Uganda under the non-profit called Global Healing. He has allegedly recruited more than a thousand staff in Uganda instructed to have 50 Sunday service attendees consume it every week under the claim that it will cure HIV/AIDS and other illnesses. Unfortunately, it was also reported that the banned substance has also been given to children as young as 14 months.
Baldwin’s operations were revealed in an audio tape obtained by the same publication through Fiona O’Leary who, in her own blog, identifies herself as advocating against “quack treatments.” Posing as a freelance journalist, O’Leary was able to catch Baldwin on record seemingly confirming that his so-called “miracle water” is actually MMS. “When you draw attention to MMS you run the risk of getting in trouble with the government or drug companies,” Baldwin allegedly said. “You have to do it low key. That’s why I set it up through the church.”
Unfortunately, Baldwin is not the first to claim that MMS can cure HIV/AIDS. In 2010, the FDA was obliged to release public warning against the consumption of MMS following several reports that people who were consuming it got sick. It was also reiterated that MMS has the same qualities as an industrial-grade bleach that is obviously not meant for human consumption.