MONROVIA – The Youth Action International headed by Dr. Kimmie Weeks is partnering with the Waves for Water founder Jon Ross to repair damaged hand-pumps around Liberia with over 55 pumps being repaired so far.
The organization aim of repairing pumps across the country is to continue addressing the issue of safe drinking water for the people of Liberia.
The two NGOs have launched a program to ensure that all the spoiled pumps that were constructed by other NGOs be repaired in other to prevent the people from drinking from open wells and streams.
Addressing a news conference outside Monrovia at his Duport Road office, Dr. Weeks said it has been observed that that many of the pumps that were constructed by other NGOs across the country have been damaged, thus creating water crises for the people.
“We thought it wise that action be taken by repairing those pumps to bring relief to the people in terms of providing them safe and clean drinking water. We have started with Montserrado County with about 55 hand pumps being repaired so far,” he noted.
He further disclosed that he and his partner are prepare to solve the water problem by repairing the already existed hand pumps that were damaged in those various communities.
He, however, called on Liberians to bring it to the knowledge of both Youth Action International and Waves for Water whenever there is any spoiled pump in any community.
“We need to take hundred percent actions to solve the problem of safe drinking water in this country because water is important to life. We are calling on all well-meaning Liberians to take advantage of the privilege being provided by with information about damage pumps in the their areas he said.
For his part, the Founder and CEO of the Waves for Water, Jon Rose said thousands of United States Dollars have been spent so far on all of the pumps that were being repaired.
He said the both NGOs have spent close to US$500 per pump to do the repair depending on the level of damaged.
He was quick to disclose that the funding being used to repair the pumps is donor and partners’ money. “We have individuals and friends to us that are also contribute to the project. There are lots of people also that do not have pumps in their areas at all, for those areas we are taking different interventions,” he said.
Jon, however, said the areas that have no pumps; their organizations will provide water filters to residents in those areas to prevent contaminated waters being consumed.
He noted that as the support base increase for the organization, the more they will extend the process to other communities outside Monrovia and in other counties.
“We believe that access to clean water is a fundamental human right. Which is why we have dedicated our lives to providing it, through the implementation of portable water filter systems, the digging/renovating of bore-hole wells, and the construction of rainwater harvesting/storing systems (in places where groundwater is not accessible),” he said.
He said the global water crisis is solvable. “The technology exists, along with the manpower to implement it. It just comes down to a choice: those who have access to clean water, choosing to provide it for those who don’t. On behalf of the entire Waves For Water team, we want to thank you for helping us make that choice.”