Priest Anton Srholec, reporter Andrej Ban, doctor Alan Suchánek and nurse Magdaléna Kovačovičová of Piešťany Hospital are this year's laureates of the White Crow award, handed out by the Fair-Play Alliance and VIA IURIS civic associations at an official ceremony on Tuesday. The award is given to whistleblowers who challenge unethical or corrupt behaviour at great personal risk or for courageous civic deeds benefitting the public. Roman Catholic priest and long-time chair of the Political Prisoners Confederation, Srholec received the award for his life-time contributions. Srholec was a political prisoner incarcerated by the communist regime for many years and was caught in a flight attempt to study theology abroad. Later he spent time in Italy, where the Pope appointed him priest. Following the Velvet Revolution in 1989, Archbishop Jan Sokol has failed to give consent for Srholec's rehabilitation, thus Srholec still cannot preach publicly at churches. Since 1992, he has been involved in helping the homeless, for whom he founded the Resota centre.
Recognition for long-term contributions was also given to reporter and photographer Andrej Ban has been taking pictures for magazines at home and abroad, recently for the weekly magazine týždeň. In 1999, Ban founded the humanitarian organisation People in Peril, organised a fundraiser for victims of the tsunami in Asia and coordinated a relief response after devastating floods that affected eastern Slovakia.
Doctor Alan Suchánek and nurse Magdaléna Kovačovičová, serving as members of Alexander Winter Hospital's Administrative Board in Piešťany, drew attention in the autumn of 2014 to the purchase of an overpriced CAT scanner. Their testimonies started a wave of public interest that led to the resignations of a number of senior politicians and the cancellation of the deal. The laureates also took legal action against unlawful personnel shuffling on the hospital's Administrative Board, with the investigator pressing charges against eight individuals recently. "We warned them at the Board session that we'd tell the public what was going on. They told us that we were being ridiculous", said Suchánek, adding that Slovakia is completely riddled with corruption at all levels. "That's why we attempted to do something positive at least on this small scale. We have to show others it's possible. Otherwise, there won't ever be any change for the better".
