2nd Feb 2005 14:30
Pfizer Expands Tsunami Relief Efforts Across Asia Pfizer Partners with Thailand Health Organizations to Help Survivors Cope with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Pfizer Helps Develop Public Health Laboratory Infrastructure in Banda Aceh $45 Million in Pfizer Medicines and Healthcare Products and $11 Million in Cash Reach More Than 35 Relief Organizations BANGKOK, Thailand, Feb. 2 -- Hundreds of healthcare professionals from tsunami-affected countries gathered here today for a first-ever conference on managing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among the hundreds of thousands of surviving men, women and children. Sponsored by Pfizer Inc in collaboration with the Thailand Ministry of Public Health, The Royal College of Psychiatrists and the Psychiatric Association, the world's leading mental health experts met with healthcare professionals to help them identify and address the needs of survivors in Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Thailand and India who are suffering from incomparable loss. "It is now critically important to focus on the potential long-term psychological impact this disaster will have on people and communities across Asia," said Pfizer Chief Executive Officer Hank McKinnell. "Pfizer's contribution is rapidly approaching $60 million in medicines, healthcare products and cash donations, and we remain committed to relief and reconstruction efforts. But we also understand the impact of PTSD and other anxiety disorders and the importance of alleviating these profound symptoms so people can begin to rebuild their lives." An international panel of mental health experts who specialize in trauma and psychosocial rehabilitation will share the knowledge and experience they gleaned from dealing with the emotional aftermath of natural disasters such as the devastating floods in Venezuela, which claimed more than 70,000 lives in 1999. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is the development of characteristic and persistent symptoms after exposure to a life threatening experience or detachment. Symptoms include nightmares, recurrent and distressing recollections or flashbacks, insomnia and feelings of hopelessness that impair daily functioning and can last for years. "The enormous number of children affected by this devastation is alarming", said Professor Jonathan Davidson, Head of the Conference Faculty and Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University, USA. "Recognizing and attending to the mental health problems is critical as these children are the future of this region of the world." "The people of Thailand and other parts of Asia have suffered immense losses and will greatly benefit from the ideas and outcomes of this meeting," said M.L. Somchai Chakrabhand, M.D., Director General of the Department of Mental Health, Thailand Ministry of Public Health. "The Thai Health Ministry will continue to do everything within its capability to assist people to heal emotionally and psychologically. Since the disaster we have deployed 80 rotating multi-disciplinary teams of mental health professionals in the affected areas. Our response to the mental health and psychosocial rehabilitation needs of our people and our communities will affect our people and our society for generations to come." In addition to its global relief efforts, Pfizer will provide financial resources and expertise to support two initiatives in Thailand. It will partner with the MOPH and medical associations in building local mental health treatment capacity through programs to train local health professionals, nurses, social workers, psychologists, teachers and other community leaders. In a separate initiative, Pfizer will support the Thai Labor Department and industry associations in their programs to identify and train people who are displaced in the job market due to devastations of businesses in the disaster affected areas. Public Private Partnership: Banda Aceh, Indonesia Separately, in conjunction with the Provincial Health Services of Aceh, Pfizer has pledged more than $600,000 to establish a Public Health Laboratory in the Indonesian province worst hit by the tsunami. The laboratory, which will employ locally trained technicians, will primarily monitor potential infectious disease outbreaks in the disaster-affected region. "Our goal is to prevent further loss of life from contagious diseases," said Dr. Joseph Feczko, Pfizer Vice President and Executive Vice President of Pfizer Global Research and Development. "Aceh and northern Sumatra are wet tropical zones with a wide range of endemic diseases including malaria and many water-borne infections like hepatitis, cholera and typhoid. The widespread destruction of health infrastructure and sanitation has created a physical environment ideally suited to fueling diseases which could pose a significant threat to survivors," Dr. Feczko said. The laboratory will provide testing services to local hospitals, clinics and health care-oriented aid agency activities to help diagnose illnesses and monitor the spread of infections. The laboratory will become a permanent component of the provincial health infrastructure in Banda Aceh as services are re-established following the emergency relief period. Pfizer Relief Efforts Since the tsunami hit on December 26, 2004, Pfizer has provided $10 million to relief organizations operating in the region, more than $45 million in health product donations and an additional $1.5 million in individual employee and company-matching donations. Pfizer is also partnering with the United Nations where Pfizer experts in supply-chain management have been sent to the affected areas to support the critical United Nations-led relief efforts. Additional Pfizer colleagues are expected to support UN teams in areas of critical need, such as specialist public health professionals and water engineering and purification experts. Pfizer employees in the affected areas were mobilized to assist in intensive relief and search efforts. In addition, Pfizer has partnered with international and local relief agencies with proven capacity to deliver both funds and medicines quickly and efficiently to the people who need them most. "Seeing the effects of the devastation and contemplating the great loss of life struck me with heart-felt sadness. However, witnessing relief agencies, survivors and thousands of volunteers working tirelessly to assist those affected gives me hope. I am grateful that as Pfizer, we could be part of a world community that has been able to lend a helping-hand," McKinnell said. SOURCE Pfizer Inc 02/02/2005 /CONTACT: Imraan Munshi, +66-1-250-0262, Darlene Taylor, +1-212-733-0475/ /Company News On-Call: Pfizer's press releases are available through PR Newswire's Company News On-Call service on PRN's Web Site. Visit http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/688250.html / /Photo: A free corporate logo to accompany this story is available immediately via Wieck Photo Database to any media with telephoto receiver or electronic darkroom, PC or Macintosh, that can accept overhead transmissions. 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