THE Senate President, David Mark has commended Unilever’s premium toothpaste brand, Close-Up and other stakeholders in Nigeria’s oral health system for their persistent effort in taking oral health awareness campaign to the nation’s grassroots.

Speaking at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, where the World Oral Health Day was recently marked, Mark, who is Nigeria’s National Oral Health Ambassador, revealed that many Nigerians were still unaware of the relevance of oral health to their entire well being.

He said the appointment of State Oral Health Ambassadors for each state of the federation and Abuja further underlines the importance he attaches to his role as National Health Ambassador.

The 37 Oral Health Ambassadors were formally inaugurated during the event. The appointees include: Senator Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa, Chairman Senate Committee on Health representing Delta State; Dr. Hakeen Baba Ahmed representing Kaduna; Mr Tunde Lemo, the Deputy Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria representing Ogun State; Innocent Tuface Idibia representing Benue State; Dr. Mohammed Ibraheem, the Dankaden of Kano representing Kano State; and Governor Godswill Akpabio for Akwa Ibom state, among other prominent Nigerians.

Also at the occasion, the Senate President and the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health, Mrs. Fatima Bamidele presented prizes to the winners of the Close-Up sponsored essay competition with the theme: Healthy Teeth for Healthy Lives.

Azubuike Chaimaka of Anglican Girls Grammar School emerged the overall winner of the competition and received N100, 000 cash prize.  Enaiye Grace of Africa International College, Abuja, took the second position while Vera Chioma Ekechukwu of Naval Officers Wives Association Secondary School (NOWASS) came third. They were rewarded with N70, 000 and N50, 000 respectively.

Speaking at the event, Managing Director of Unilever Nigeria, Mr. Thabo Mabe, represented by the Nutrition Health Manager, Mr. Victor Ajieroh stressed that Unilever is committed to continued awareness creation, knowledge building and behaviour change around oral health in Nigeria and remains committed to providing every Nigerian with the right, appropriate and oral care technology.