Our Pfizer Global Commitment - Philanthropic work
At Pfizer we lead by demonstrating our on-going commitment to the communities in which we operate.
- Lebogang Taunyane, Global Philanthropy Director, Africa
The philanthropic platform includes a wide range of public health partnerships such as:
The Diflucan® Partnership Programme
On 01 December 2011, the Diflucan® Partnership Programme (DPP) marked its 11th year of continued commitment to providing, free of charge, the anti-fungal drug Diflucan® (fluconazole) for treatment of two opportunistic infections commonly associated with HIV and AIDS, namely cryptococcal meningitis and oesophageal candidiasis, in order to improve the lives of people living with the illness. To date, the DPP in South Africa has donated over 40 million in medicines and has reached over 700 health facilities, nationally.
Globally, the DPP has provided $1.2-billion USD in medicine to more than 2,400 sites in 63 countries in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean and Latin America.
Global Health Fellows
The Global Health Fellows programme is a corporate volunteer programme that places Pfizer colleagues on short-term assignments with international development organisations designed to address global health issues and improve care for underserved populations. Since its inception in 2003, over 270 Pfizer Global Health Fellows from offices around the world have participated in the programme, working in more than 40 countries. Assignments are focused on strengthening healthcare systems and include efforts such as building health information systems, training health workers, improving service delivery, and enhancing management of medicines, vaccines and technology.
In South Africa, 28 Fellows have served with various organisations, including the American Cancer Society/AORTIC, Broad Reach Health Care, Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital, Project HOPE, USAID, International AIDS Vaccine Initiative and Mothers 2 Mothers.
Infectious Diseases Institute
In 2004, Pfizer established the Infectious Diseases Institute (IDI) in Kampala, Uganda, and has invested $60-million USD to date. IDI has become a regional Centre of Excellence for prevention, treatment, training and research that strengthens regional capacity in HIV and AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis. IDI has since trained over 8,500 healthcare providers from 27 African countries and provided care and treatment to some 40,000 patients throughout Uganda, with outreach to another 500,000. In addition, the IDI has produced 162 scholarly articles and 165 abstracts through over 50 research programmes.
Local Partnerships and Grants which receive Global support
As a good corporate citizen, Pfizer South Africa’s Biopharmaceutical Division recognises its responsibility towards making a contribution to the social development of the country. Over the years, the company has provided support to various organisations with projects focused in the areas of education, HIV and AIDS, child abuse and orphaned and vulnerable children.
These include:
Soweto Hospice
The company has been supporting the Soweto Hospice since 2003 to help provide HIV and AIDS care and support for the terminally ill, as well as community education, and has contributed over R3 million to support Soweto Hospice activities, over the years.
Ubuntu Education Fund
Pfizer South Africa’s Biopharmaceutical Division is an active partner of the Ubuntu Education Fund in Port Elizabeth; an organisation aimed at transforming the lives of orphaned and vulnerable children by providing them and their families with an empowering environment, as well as access to services and opportunities. For the past four years, the company has contributed over R1 million to support Ubuntu activities, enabling the organisation to greatly impact the lives of people infected and affected by HIV and AIDS in Zwide Township.