Ex corper sues pharmaceutical company over adverse reaction to malarial drug

A former Batch B youth corper who served with the National Youth Corp Service in 2014, Miss Morenike  Olorunda, has sued a pharmaceutical company, Swiss Pharma Nigeria Limited, after she contracted Steven Johnson’s Syndrome (SJS) few days after she used an anti malarial drug, which was distributed in camp.

Miss Olorunda averred that the said drug, Swidar formerly known as Fansidar was given to her at the NYSC orientation camp and she took same, but developed blisters on her arms and hands, which progressively got worse.

The claimant who studied Bio Med in an institution in Scotland, but had come back to Nigeria to observe the mandatory service year, further averred that she was rushed to the hospital when the blisters got worse.

She was however exempted from completing her orientation camp training so that she could get specialist treatment.

She further added that the situation became worse when her whole body broke out in sores and blisters to the extent that she was salivating uncontrollably and blood was coming out from the pores of her skin.

The claimant’s mother, Mrs Olamide Olorunda, who is a co-claimant in the suit, added that her daughter was between life and death as the disease ravaged her body.

“She thought she was going to die, and I had to take her overseas for further medical treatment. She was horrified when she saw her reflection in the mirror and was so depressed afterwards. I spend more than N5 million trying desperately to get the best care for her,” she told an Ikeja High Court where the suit is being heard.

Mrs Olorunda however added that her daughter spent her 25th birthday in isolation and pain and in that state, wrote a letter to the defendant, (Swiss Pharma Nigeria Ltd) informing them of her ordeal.

She further claimed that the defendants did not respond and did not even acknowledge the letter.

“Even NYSC showed concern for my daughter’s condition. After one year, it became obvious that defendant was ignoring us so we decided to go to court,” she added.

The claimants are asking the court for an order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendant from further manufacturing the anti malarial drug, Swidar, and also requiring the defendant to show pictures on its products leaflets of what a person with SJS, which is a known side effect of the drug.

The claimants also want the defendants to publish a public warning in two national newspapers and also two national television stations outlying the side effects of the drug.

They are also claiming the sum of N207 million in special and general damages from Swiss Pharma Nigeria Limited. The presiding Judge, Justice Oke Lawal, adjourned the matter till February 8, 2017 for further hearing of the suit.