Lofa County – Residents of Salayea District in Lofa County over the weekend witnessed a dedication of five modern latrine facilities in the district.
The latrines were built at the Yarpuah Public School, Gbarsue, Christain City Church School, Gbonyea and Telemai.
The facilities were constructed by a non-governmental organization, Camp For Peace Liberia under a project dubbed “Providing Sanitation and Hygiene Facilities for rural Schools in Liberia.”
Speaking at the dedication ceremony, the Executive Director of Camp for Peace Liberia, D. Abel Learwellie said the project is valued at US$23,000.00.
“The budget for the construction of the five modern latrines is USD$23,000.00. sixteen thousand (USD$16,000.00) was given directly by the Australian High Commission through its Direct Aid Program. The balance Seven thousand (USD$7,000.00) was provided by local organizations,” Learwellie said.
Director Learwellie said the Australian Aid Program is aimed at supporting projects with strong development focus that contribute to inclusive, sustainable economic growth and poverty reduction.
“We have been working in this region (Lofa) since 2012. We visit towns and other places and realized that most of the latrines that our people built, almost all these latrines are like bursting up and most of them are no longer in use. In fact, they are pit latrines, so it was from that background that we said what can we do in addition to the provisional skills that we are providing? That’s how we immediately contacted the Australian Government, the Australian High Commission,” he said
Director Learwellie also explained that the communities’ dwellers were also instrumental in contributing to the construction of the modern latrines.
“We want to urge you, is one thing to build a structure and it is another thing to use it and maintain it. NGOs can only come do their work and go but we will stay here, let us maintain it,” he noted.
For Suahkollie G. Flomo, modern latrines project is welcoming and will help reduce health hazard in the various communities.
“I am very happy to see development like this my community, ” Flomo said.
Added Siah Bondo Oreba, the district education office: “Today Camp for Peace has done her best by constructing modern latrines for us, it is left with us to maintain it. Let us attach importance to this project and see to it that it is well maintained.”