Plateau State Correspondent of Daily Sun Newspapers, Gyang Bere has emerged the First Prize winner of the 2022 Smile Train Media Award and Media engagement on National Surgical Obstetrics, Anaesthesia and Nursing Plan for Nigeria (NSOANP) and Cleft Care.

Adenike Adebowale Tambe of Premium Times emerged Second Prize winner while Waliat Musa of Guardian Newspapers emerged the third winner Prize.

Vice President and Regional Director, Africa Smile Train, Mrs. Nkieruka Obi, who spoke at the event in Abuja, described the Awardees as critical media stakeholders of Smile Train who have worked assiduously in creating the needed awareness on Cleft Care in Nigeria.

She appreciated the media for adequate sensitization on Cleft Care and said Smile Train has sponsored surgical operations on several persons with cleft lip and palate following media awareness.

Nigerian Society of Anaesthesiatists (NSA) in collaboration with world Federation of societies of Anaesthesiologist presented an Award of Excellence to Smile Train Nigeria for examplary leadership qualities, dedication, selflessness and meritorious services to the society, Mrs Obi noted that one is not necessarily born with courage but with potentials and said courage is needed to push for the attainment of one’s goals, said that is the typical example of NSOANP project.

“This is the 3rd fora we are having for Nigeria NSOANP implementation and stakeholders and Cleft Care, that even at the pick of COVID-19, this was being done and I can only attribute it to the level of commitment of everyone seated here, from the Federal Ministry of Health to the field officers to our partners and to the Smile Train team on ground.

“NSOANP implementation has become a flagship project coming out from Africa to the world and I am proud that Nigeria is taking the lead and I want to thank Prof. Emmanuel Emeh who insisted that the right thing must be done.

“When the NSOANP policy document was developed, we were just invited as casual stakeholders, when we got to that meeting in 2019 and we saw alot of opportunities and a lot of potentials, we believe it was going to be something that will change the narrative of what Nigeria has offered the world and we decided to work together.

“I am proud to say that the Federal Ministry of Health has been super supportive, I have my own perception, with with the Ministry and I want to appreciate the Honourable Minister of health for taking the bold initiative to make things work.” She stated.

Fadekeme Oginni, Professor of Oral Maxillofacid of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), who presented the Award, commended Bere for working hard towards creating awareness on Cleft Care which assisted many victims to access free surgery.

She urged the Sun reporter to work more in creating awareness on Cleft Care as there are so many people who are battling with the condition that has no access to care.

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Sun man, Bere wins Smile Train 2022 Media Cleft Awareness Award