This Day (Lagos)
Abdullahi Ibn Mohammed
2 July 2009
analysis
Kaduna — I write in connection with the article "How Shekarau Rescued Kano Pfizer Victims," printed in THIS DAY this past 10th of June. It is an outrageous misrepresentation of the facts for the author, Sule Ya'u Sule, to suggest that 200 patients died. The author is the Director of Media for the Kano Government. As such, he is fully aware of the facts of this case, including the fact that there were a total of 11 deaths during the Trovan clinical study (5 on Trovan and 6 on the comparator treatment).
More importantly, all evidence points to the fact that any deaths were the direct result of the devastating disease that is meningitis. Nobody can forget that, in 1996, Nigeria was devastated by the worst meningitis epidemic in our history. At least 12,000 lives were lost and 110,000 Nigerians affected by this most unforgiving of diseases. Still today, we know that meningitis continues to be a severe public health crisis for our state and federal governments, which seem unable to ever get a handle on this disease.
The two groups of patients in the Trovan clinical study were treated with either Trovan or Ceftriaxone. Trovan had the best results of the three medications available at Kano's IDH. Today, Ceftriaxone is still the Gold Standard medication against meningitis. This was one of the important issues that a full blown trial would have addressed, but happily both sides have resolved to settle out of court. Governor Shekarau should be indeed commended for his role in ending these cases and moving on with more pressing matters for the health of all Nigerians. But his good deeds are today stained by the actions of his close adviser. It is worrisome that at this crucial time, when all efforts should be geared towards finalizing an amicable settlement, such untruths are being flaunted all over again by those who should know better.
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