Pfizer's Tale

Pfizer Starts Work on $30m Hospital in Kano

Multinational drugs firm, Pfizer Incorporated, has commenced work on the establishment of a $30 million medical facility at Dawakin Dudu, 15 kilometres from the Kano metropolis.

Ibrahim Shekarau, the state Governor, performed the foundation laying ceremony of the medical facility at the occasion. He said that the decision by Pfizer to establish the medical facility was in line with an out of court settlement reached between the state government, victims of the 1996 Trovan drug test and Pfizer incorporated.

Spokesperson for Pfizer, Chris Loder, said the decision to construct the medical facility underlines the commitment of the company towards ensuring the wellbeing of Nigerians. "The construction of a new state of the art medical centre in Kano is proof positive that Pfizer continues to fulfil its commitments to Nigeria and its people," he said. "This event allows the company to further its work on what really matters - improving the healthcare for all Nigerians." The medical facility is to be equipped with a centre for disease control, a public health laboratory, a diagnostic centre, a micro-biological reference laboratory and residence staff quarters.

The Trovan War

Hundreds of people died or took ill in Kano after they were administered by the drugs in a surreptitious test being conducted by the company on the efficacy and effects of the drug. It was later sued by both the state and federal government. The company reached an out-of-court settlement with the two parties.

Recalling how he led a delegation to the negotiation talks with Pfizer in the United Kingdom and America, Mr Shekarau expressed optimism that the medical facility would achieve the desired objective of proper diagnosis and treatment of chronic diseases afflicting children in Kano and neighbouring states of Nigeria.

The chairman of the Healthcare Programme Trust, S.A.S Galadanci, said that it is unfortunate that the less privileged ones in the society had faced difficulties accessing treatment when faced with chronic ailments. He explained that the facility would redress the problems associated with the dearth of medical facilities and equipment at various healthcare centres in Kano and neighbouring states by the time it becomes fully operational next year.