Did you know that Pfizer is committed to building healthy relationships with community-based organizations (CBO’s) in efforts to support minority and faith based organizations?
Through Pfizer’s Worldwide Policy and Public Affairs (WPAP) group Community Health Advocacy (CHA); Pfizer, the National Urban League (NUL), and its 100 affiliates across the country have committed themselves as partners in lessening the gap in health disparities. Together they have addressed issues such as health disparities, access to medicines, prevention and community health at this year’s National Urban League Annual Conference in Orlando Florida on July 30th – August 2nd, 2008.
The NUL is one of the oldest and largest community-based movements in the nation, devoted to improving the overall health and quality of life for all people as well as important social, economic and political empowerment for African Americans.
Since 2004, Pfizer has served as a dedicated sole-sponsor of the Health Empowerment Zone at the Annual Conference. This year Pfizer teamed up with Walgreens to co-sponsor the initiative. The 2008 Annual conference held at the Marriot World Resort and Conference Center in Orlando Florida, hosted over 10,000 professionals representing Fortune 500 corporations, entrepreneurs, educators, government officials and many other well-educated African American professionals. Pfizer and one of its long time partner CBO’s, the National Black Nurses Association (Central Florida Chapter), teamed up to provide vital Cholesterol and Glucose screenings to conference attendees. Pfizer’s initiatives were well received as our community partners and colleagues provided valuable information about Pfizer’s Helpful Answers (PHA) program for the uninsured as a gateway to provide access to medicines. PHA is a family of programs that helps people without prescription coverage save on many Pfizer medicines, no matter their age or income. People with limited income may qualify to receive their medicines free of charge! For more information please visit Pfizer’s Helpful Answers at www.pfizerhelpfulanswers.com or call the toll free number 1-866-706-2400 to learn about the different programs.
In arming the Orlando community with various Pfizer materials, our colleagues found that many attendees were unaware of all the options available and were thrilled to learn how it could positively impact their lives. Pfizer’s goals and objectives at the conference were very clear: educate the community about Pfizer’s Helpful Answers, promote HIV awareness and health screenings and to reinforce the NUL/ Pfizer commitment to eliminating health disparities, just to name a few. Evidence of Pfizer’s commitment to lessening the gap of health disparities can be demonstrated through its partnership with the NUL ( Lorraine, Ohio Affiliate) and Morehouse School of Medicine, Community Voices to conduct the SAVE OUR SONS (SOS) feasibility study which explores key strategies in preventing diabetes among African American men.
In addition to the SOS project, Pfizer is a proud sponsor of the NUL’s highly regarded annual SOBA report. In fact, for the past three years, Pfizer has shared the podium with NUL President, Marc Morial, as he publicly unveiled the publication at the National Press Club in Washington, DC. This year, we were proud to have Dr. Toni Hoover, Pfizer’s Senior Vice President in Global Research and Development, participate in this important event. The SOBA’s influence is wide. As the NUL Policy Institute’s signature publication, the SOBA reaches Members of Congress and the Executive Branch, powerful media outlets and public forums, influential coalitions, and academic institutions that lead policy analysis and research.
During this years Convention, Pfizer’s goals were met with great success with over 1,000 visitors who shared sensitive details about their lives and received information on how to gain access to their medicines through the great programs Pfizer has to offer. They were also informed about the importance of volunteerism and clinical trials for the successful development of drugs that will provide healthcare options for people around the globe.
The NUL Pfizer partnership will continue to build bridges that will connect minority and faith based communities to opportunities for better health.