LIBERIA: Sanitation crisis continues in Monrovia
By: WASH R&E Network – Appalling, unhealthy and worrisome, “this is how some residents have described the sanitary condition of the capital, Monrovia and environs”.
Blocked Drainage in Monrovia (sewage line connecting the Atlantic Ocean)
Continuous stockpile of garbage at the main entrance leading to West Point in Monrovia
Soniwein drainage in Monrovia sometimes used as dump site
The sanitary condition of Liberia’s capital and surroundings is becoming an issue that needs the urgent attention of relevant agencies of Government, especially the Monrovia City Corporation, (MCC), which has the constitutional mandate to keep Monrovia clean and green.
Several parts and surroundings are filthy with no sign of efforts shown to remove the stockpile of garbage that has taken over Monrovia.
A case in point is the Waterside General Market around Johansson, is one of the areas strongly hit by poor sanitation due to delay by the contractor, Zoom Lion to remove the garbage at the site.
The garbage has blocked the main drainage connecting to the Atlantic Ocean, thus creating flooding on the main street leading to the diplomatic enclave of Mamba Point, whenever it rains.
According to some drivers of the Federation of Road Transport Union of Liberia, (FRTUL), the pile of dirt in the area has obstructed the free flow of traffic and the movement of both pedestrians and marketers.
The drivers revealed that due to presence of the huge pile of dirt, a personal initiative was launched a month ago by them to clean the sewage line connecting the drainage around the Johansson area with the Atlantic Ocean.
They disclosed that a little over eight thousand Liberian dollars was used to clean up the drainage, which brought some form of relief to them for a relative short period.
“Now that the rainy season is here, the drivers added, the entire area continues to be flooded and unhygienic for them, marketers, residents and pedestrians”.
The stockpile of garbage at the main entrance leading to the populated Township of West Point Township could cause serious health hazard to thousands of the residents, especially marketers who are transacting business on a daily basis.
From an exclusive sanitation investigation conducted by the WASH Reporters & Editors Network of Liberia, which is part of its 1st quarter activities sponsored by WaterAid in Liberia and Sierra Leone revealed that sixty percent of the sanitation contract awarded by the World Bank was won by two local companies, Zoom Lion and N.C Sanitors.
These two companies were awarded sixty percent of the contract through a bidding process with the aim of taking over sanitary operations of Monrovia and surroundings.
Thirty Percent each of the contract was awarded to Zoom Lion and N.C Sanitors respectively, while forty percent of said contract was given to the Monrovia City Corporation to assist the companies where they are unable to perform adequately as it relates to the cleaning of Monrovia and environs.
According to the Press and Public Relations Officer of the Monrovia City Corporation (MCC), Nyenpan Jlateh, his entity is presently carrying on major intervention as stipulated by the World Bank contract.
Mr. Jlateh also informed WASH R&E, that a firm has been hired to monitor the two companies implementing the World Bank Sanitation project to ensure that the project is on course.
But despite the World Bank’s intervention, Monrovia and Environs continue to be troubled with the issue of poor sanitation and the threat it poses to the health of residents and the environment.
Some of the residents and marketers are calling on the World Bank to revisit the contract signed with Zoom Lion and N.C Sanitors aimed at providing sanitation services for Monrovia and parts adjacent.
They claimed that the two companies are not living up to the terms of the contract awarded them by the World Bank.
Zoon Lion and N.C. Sanators have attributed the huge stockpiles of garbage in a around Monrovia to residents’ failure to adhere to the proper time and place to deposit waste.
The two sanitation companies also attributed the filthiness of Monrovia to the over crowdedness of the city, since the end of the Liberian civil crisis.
They informed WASH R&E that as the raining season reaches a peak, the Johansson area, especially around the drainage connecting the Atlantic Ocean will be a no go zone for residents, marketers as well pedestrians.
An economic study conducted for Liberia has shown that impacts resulting from poor sanitation and hygiene cost the Liberian economy 1,236 Liberian Dollars (US$ 18 million) per year, or the equivalent of 2% of annual Gross Domestic Product.
The Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Reporters & Editors Network of Liberia (WASH R&E) wants the Monrovia City Corporation (MCC) and Paynesville City Corporation (PCC), including the two sanitation companies “Zoon Lion and N.C. Sanitors to take more proactive measures in addressing the issues of poor sanitation in the city and its environs.
WASH R&E has meanwhile promised to continue media attention on Monrovia poor sanitation, until something positive is done to address the situation.
