By Emmanuel Mafelah,mafelahemmanuel29@gmail.com
Gbarnga, Liberia-As the bulk of the nation’s attention is being put on politics, people both in rural and urban areas are struggling to cope, with a large number of them lacking the barest minimum of basic social services across Liberia.
In Peahan Town, outside the central city of Gbarnga, the lack of clean and safe water for drinking and cooking is said to be posing serious health risk to the inhabitants of this area in Bong County, which is some 103 miles from Monrovia.
On a tour of the area last weekend, several locals explained that they are finding it very difficult to access safe drinking water, especially during the dry season.
The Human Right to Waterand Sanitation (HRWS) was recognized as a human right by the United Nations General Assembly on 28 July 2010.
“The human right to water entitles everyone to sufficient, safe, acceptable, physically accessible and affordable water for personal and domestic uses,” it states.
The residents, many of whom are poor farmers, disclosed that women and children have to frequently walk long distances in search of safe drinking water. As such, they at times are compelled to drink from streams and other unsafe water sources, which pose serious threat to them and exposing them to water-borne diseases.
Despite the lack of safe drinking water, citizens in Peahan town also complained about the lack of learning facilities for school-age children who wish to acquire quality education, in order to meet up with future challenges ahead as incoming leaders.
Theey maintained that the lack of those basic social needs are increasing their frustration and making life more difficult for them, thus adding to the high illiteracy rate in the country.
Mr. Josiah Kerkulah, the Town Chief of Peahan also alleged that they have been neglected by elected officials and the national government, adding that their quest to attract government’s attention and support is yet to gain fruit.
Chief Kerkulah call on the Liberian leader, President Dr. George Manneh Weah to direct some of his Pro-Poor agenda for development to them as locals, who elected him to power.
The Peahan Town people also appealed to their District Representative, Deputy house Speaker Prince K. Moye to assist them in getting safe drinking water, the rehabilitations of their roads, the construction of schools and other basic infrastructures.