Health Hazard in Whein Town – Community Wants Gov’t Intervention

Paynesville – Recent WASH survey says poor sanitation in and around Monrovia continues to be a serious problem especially the management and disposal of waste.

Report by David S. Johnson, Intern MediaAid Foundation, 0776315864/0886315864

Poor sanitation, WASH says, gives infections the ability to spread quickly which can cause major human parasitic diseases.

Covering miles in the Whein town community adjoining route to the community main street is a huge dump facility that has been authorized by the Government of Liberia and the Monrovia City Corporation since 2011 which stinks the air and had according to residents provided a serious health hazard; mosquito’s bites, flies, cockroaches, and unsafe drinking water in the community.

Speaking to its community chairman, Stevenson Yond, who had been chairman for two years, said he is very disappointed in the manner the Government of Liberia and the Monrovia City Corporation is handling the issue of the garbage health problem with the residents of Whein Town.

He mentioned that during this time of rainy season in Liberia there is a huge flowing of water directly from the dump facility into the community which is infecting the wells and hand pumps in the community.

“There is no safe drinking water for our people here, no hospitals, or clinics, and no lights”, he says. Speaking to this paper, he also refutes claims by the community members that he is receiving brides or tips from MCC in order not to advocate on the community’s behalf over the issue of the garbage disposal at the site.

According to the MCC the facility since 2011 had being created to help with the problem of solid waste management in the City of Monrovia but the Whein town community dwellers are in dying need for its closure or that the government provides them with clinic, safe drinking water amongst others.

Meanwhile some residents at the sites have complained that there is no need to give their complaint to the government or speak with journalist in the area, alleging that the community leader is taking bribe from the MCC  and several journalist who had interviewed them since, had led to nothing being done about the condition they are faced with.

According to Fatu Cooper, another resident, the Ministry of Health had begun distributing mosquitos’ nets in the area to help tackle the community problem but safe drinking water, a hospital or clinic, is lacking as the community continues to suffer from water borne diseases like rashes, itches, etc.

They are however calling on the Government and MCC to prevail this time on the matter and come to their aid.