By Patrick Nyewan
BARCLAYVILLE, Liberia- Safe drinking water is in very short supply in Grand Kru County, southeastern Liberia, with the situation posing serious challenges to inhabitants of the area Which is situated 581 kilometers from Monrovia.
One of the areas facing acute shortage of safe drinking water is Wessah, upper Barclayville, something that has led many locals to fetch water from unsaved sources, thereby threatening their health with fear that this could lead to increase in water borne diseases such as diarrhea, dysentery, etc.
According to the Commissioner of this town, Edward K. Wlegbe of Wessah Township, citizens are getting water from nearby creeks, using it for cooking and drinking purposes.
He lamented that that cattle in the town are also drinking from such creeks and rivers and defecating in them, causing the pollution of the water.
Commissioner Wlegbe further disclosed to reporters that the available hand pumps in the town are not functioning and need to be looked at within a soonest possible time to minimize the high level of sickness mostly from unsaved drinking water in that part of Grand Kru.
Meanwhile, Mr. Wlegbe named the importance of a clinic as one of their major challenge in that part of the county.
He lamented on the issue of taking sick and pregnant women to Sass Town, far from where they are residing while they are in pain due to the lack of clinic in Wessah Township.