Margibi County – Modeh Town in Lower Margibi County is expected to shortly benefit from an elementary school, but residents of the area say they are in serious need of health center, safe drinking water, and vocational skills training.
Report by Willie N. Tokpah 00231777039231 [email protected])
The school construction is said to be the first of its kind in the town, which is located near Marshall City.
The project is being implemented by the Education Support Children Liberia Incorporated in partnership with the office of Margibi County Representative Tebelrosa S. Tarponweh.
Modeh Town has an estimated population of 500 people and the residents have welcomed the initiative but stated that the town is in dire need of other basic social services.
According to the residents, they have no access to safe drinking water since the only pump that served them got damaged over a year ago.
A resident of the Town, Emmanuel Barsee noted that they are constrained to fetch water from an open well located at the outskirts of the town.
Worried by the lack of safe drinking water, Barsee also stressed that the absence of a health care center and lack of latrine are posing a serious threat to residents.
Speaking to FrontPage Africa during a groundbreaking ceremony for the school in lower Margibi County, he furthered that residents of the town usually catch diarrhea and getting them to a medical center is often difficult.
“We have to take people all the way to Marshall or ELWA if they are seriously sick,” Barsee said.
Another resident, Annie Wright, an elder of the town, said the construction of the elementary school in the area will be a relief for them.
She added that children of the community are often vulnerable to danger while walking several miles to school. Madam Wright then stressed the need for vocational skills training program for the town.
However, she hailed Education Support Children Liberia Inc. and the office of Margibi County District One Representative Tarponweh for choosing the town as the beneficiary of the project.
The organization’s Country Coordinator Daniel Mulbah noted that the project was a goodwill gesture from humanitarian from the Netherlands to Liberia.
Mr. Mulbah said the vision bearer of the project Christiana Lewis of the Netherlands has extended thanks to residents of the town for accepting the project.
“This elementary school will be constructed free of charge and run on a free basis by the donors in the Netherlands. The construction will be done entirely from funding from the donor,” Mr. Mulbah explained.
He said the project is humanitarian driven while assuring the residents that his organization is “looking at their concerns about healthcare and safe drinking water”.
He said the school project will begin March 28, 2019, and would be completed by September 2019.
At the same time, Marshall City Mayor Robert Williams praised the group for the initiative, noting that the project will serve as a “light for over seven towns” in that part of lower Margibi County.
Meanwhile, ALFALIT International Country Director Rev. Emmanuel Giddings has promised to offer an adult literacy program at the school.
Rev. Giddings also pledged to undertake any other future initiative that may be associated with running the schools.