LIBERIA: WASH Consortium Ends Legislative Forum
…As Lawmakers Promise to Prioritize WASH – By: WASH R&E Network – An Interactive Legislative Forum on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) has ended in Monrovia with several Lawmakers pledging their unflinching support to the WASH sector of Liberia.
The Medium known as “Meet the Lawmakers WASH Forum” was sponsored by the Liberia WASH Consortium and implemented by the United Youth for Peace, Education, Transparency & Development in Liberia (UYPETDL).
Other participants at the “Meet the Lawmakers WASH Forum”
The Forum which took place at the YMCA auditorium in Monrovia on Wednesday, May 15, 2013 followed three similar interactions in Margibi, Grand Bassa and Rivercess counties.
The Forum according to the organizer was designed to engage community dwellers to evaluate the level of progress made by Lawmakers and County Officials on the provision of safe drinking water, sanitation and hygiene facilities across Liberia.
The WASH Forum was also designed to inform community dwellers on the role of their Legislators, especially those who pledged their commitments for WASH and included same in their respective political manifestos during the 2011 general and presidential elections and to also acquaint Lawmakers with challenges faced by the various communities regarding water, sanitation and hygiene to find a way forward.
The Forum in Monrovia was attended by three Lawmakers from the House of Representatives and residents of the various Districts in Montserrado county, including members of the Liberia WASH Consortium and others from the WASH sector.
Lawmakers at the Montserrado Forum were Acarous M. Gray of District #8, Munah E. Pelham-Younblood of District #9 and William V. Dakel of District # 17, respectively.
Montserrado county District #8 Lawmaker Acarious Gray speaking at the program reiterated his commitment to the WASH sector of Liberia.
According to him, it was sadden to see Liberians drinking from unsafe wells and creeks. “It hurts me to see my people suffering from the lack of latrines, the lack of safe drinking water and poor drainage system” the Montserrado District #8 Lawmaker emphasized.
Rep. Gray said it is his wish that the WASH Bill currently at the Lower House be passed to help reduce diarrhea and malaria illnesses, describing them as the major causes of deaths across the country.
Representative Gray described Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) as crucial to the recovery of Liberia and said Liberia’s transition from post conflict to national development can only be achieved if every citizen can access safe drinking Water and improved sanitation facilities.
The District #8 Lawmaker called for the teaching of sanitation and hygiene in all Liberian schools to serve as an important factor in providing more sensitizing and about WASH.
For her part, Montserrado District #9 Representative, Munah Pelham-Youngblood disclosed that her District has already allocated 60 thousand United States dollars out of the 150 thousand United States Dollar-District Fund for the Construction of over twenty toilets in the District.
She said the construction of the latrine facilities will help curtail health hazard posed due to the reported lack of sanitation facilities in the District.
Also speaking, Montserrado District #17 Lawmaker, William Dakel urged his fellow Legislators to pass the WASH Bill currently at the Lower House.
According to him, this will ensure that the sector remains more active. “It is necessary to support the sector because students, especially the girls are finding it difficult to efficiently obtain quality educated due to poor WASH services” the Montserrado District #17 Lawmaker asserted.
He also said girls are reportedly been raped while trying to fetch water from creeks and rivers and that mothers are walking long distances to get water.
Other participants at the Montserrado Meet the Lawmakers WASH Forum including residents of the various Districts, the Liberia WASH Consortium and other WASH sector actors spoke about the importance of the Initiative Legislative WASH Forum and the participation of the Legislators.
They stressed that access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene remains crucial to Liberia’s growth and development, and part of efforts in meeting the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
