By Alfred Kollie alfredkolliejr92@gmail.com
Report from Liberia’s southeastern Maryland County say residents in some areas are facing serious shortage of safe drinking water, which is posting potential health threats.
Hand dug wells and other bowholes are said to be running dry as can be seen in the cover photo of a woman trying to fetch the little amount of water she can get out of one of such wells.
Residents mainly from Gbolobo Nyemeken Township in Peleebo Sodoken district #2 of Maryland County are said to be drinking from Creeks and well for drinking.
Similar situation is being faced by people in the northwestern Lofa County and other parts of Liberia, where the lack of safe drinking water is leaving many to only rely on open streams, leaving them vulnerable to water borne diseases.
Maryland County is situated on the border with neighboring Ivory Coast, which is separated Cavalla River.
A local Reporter and other sources in the area said the town currently has hundreds of residents, most of whom are women and children.
According to the locals, they have been suffering from lack of safe drinking for nearly a year now, since the four hand pumps there got damaged.
‘’We have four hand pumps in the town but since they spoil for almost a year no one not even the district representative or other authorities to intervene,’’ one of the residents said.
The four hand Pumps was constructed by Empowerment Rehabilitation Service Group, an organization responsible for water and sanitation in Maryland County and nearby area in 2008 to 2010.
‘’We are calling on the current government of President George Weah and other humanitarian both local and international organizations to help provide us safe drinking water to avoid outbreak of other diseases,’’ the resident cry out.
Water, sanitation, sanitary facilities and hygiene continue to remain major problems for the entire southern part of Liberia.
According to Maryland residents, ‘’we are currently drinking from creeks and wells something that is not safe for our survival’’.
‘’We travel for an hour to nearby creeks for water because during the dry season in Liberia the issue of water is very difficult especially in rural area only in swam area you can get water,’’ a local explained.
Speaking to www.newspublictrust.com , the City Mayor of the Gbolobo Nyemeken Township in Peleebo Sodoken district #2 in Maryland County, Michael Nyemah called on the district leadership and the county authorities to prioritize safe drinking water in the county development funds.
‘’The issue of safe drinking water is a bridge to be constructed over the creek which connect more than seven communities,’’ Mayor Nyemah said.
The city Mayor said the issue of unsafe drinking water last year resulted into outbreak of diahrrhea affecting several residents in the area.
Nyemah warned that if the situation is not urgently and properly addressed, residents risk contacting or experiencing more outbreak of diarrhea in that part of the county.
Maryland County has three districts including Harper Distric#1, Pleebo District#2 and Karluway District #3, with Harper being the provincial capital.
Harper covers an area of 2,297 square kilometers 887sq mi. As of the 2008 census, it had a population of 136,404, making it the seventh most populous county in Liberia. Maryland is bordered by Grand Kru County to the West and River Gee County to the north.