LIBERIA: Paynesville Sanitation status improves
…City Corporation attributes success to New Strategy – By: WASH R&E “Media” Network – As result of a robust awareness on the poor sanitary condition in Paynesville and other surroundings in the city by WASH R&E “Media” Network, it appears that the WASH Media reportage on the sanitary condition is yielding meaningful results.
Before: Stockpile of garbage in Jacob Town, Paynesville
The WASH Media has been following the grave issues surrounding poor sanitation in Paynesville for a protracted period now, with the publications and broadcast of several articles highlighting the issues relating to sanitation in the city.
As you will read in this story, there has been some level of improvement in the sanitary condition of the municipality.
Paynesville is located in the suburb east of Monrovia, Liberia, It is geographically larger than the city of Monrovia and is expanding eastward along the Robertsfield Highway and northeastward beyond Red Light Market, one of the largest market areas in Liberia.
The city is often considered a part of the Greater Monrovia area. It was the location of the Paynesville Omega Transmitter, the highest structure of Africa, until the tower’s demolition in 2011.
Before: Stockpile of garbage in Jacob Town, Paynesville
The city has been for some time now, has been experiencing serious sanitation challenges, with the timely disposal of garbage as one of the major challenges facing the Paynesville City Corporation.
From the WASH Media accessing in 2016, it was observed that realized Liberian Companies awarded the World Bank sanitation project under the Emergency Monrovia Urban Sanitation project (EMUS) were not up to the task.
From an investigation conducted by the WASH Media, The Monrovia City Corporation is quoted as saying that the companies were provided funds to purchase equipment for the implementation of the project.
The story remains the same, the Paynesville City Corporation, also during the investigation blamed the contractors for the poor sanitary state of Monrovia and its environs.
Authority at the PCC revealed that intervening in areas where contractors have failed has helped to remove the garbage that is in the municipality.
After: very clean environment..residents of Jacob Town now relieved of garbage stench
On the contrary, the two companies have termed the allegation of not performing to expectation as false and misleading.
With accusations and counter accusations on the issues cleaning up the city, authority decided to put in place a strategy to ensure the timely removal of garbage from designated areas to the land fill in Whein Town.
The PCC disclosed that it has put in place a Robust Strategy which is aimed at removing garbage on time which is geared towards keeping the city clean.
The PCC named timely waste collection, robust awareness, commitment and passion among others, have contributed to the immense improvement of sanitary condition in the municipality.
Areas, like the Jacob Town Market which is illustrious when it comes to the prolong stay of garbage, condition there has now improved with the area seen clean on a daily basis.
The area was overwhelmed with garbage to the extent that the garbage could be seen all over, thereby it was described as embarrassing.
The PCC told WASH Media that public awareness which has a serious stake in the campaign which is part of the strategy has paid off greatly.
After: very clean environment..residents of Jacob Town now relieved of garbage stench
The city government indicated that its awareness initiative has yielded fruit as residents and marketers have grasped the concept of keeping clean their environment.
The PCC authority revealed that as a routine for its awareness, staffers engaged residents of the various communities every week providing them basic information about sanitation and why it is significant in cleaning their respective communities.
According to the PCC, this has yielded great results for both the citizens and the municipality with residents getting more knowledge about keeping their respective communities clean.
The PCC said the awareness has also made it easier for them to carry out their work especially the collection of solid waste in the city.
The City Government informed WASH Media putting the right schedule in place to pick up garbage has also contributed to the improvement of the sanitary condition of the area.
The PPC authority said with this strategy picking up garbage at the end of the working day especially at the market in the commercial district of Red Light is keeping the market site clean.
The PCC thanked residents of the city for the level of cooperation received in executing its responsibility and is at the same time urging residents of the city to continue to help keep the city clean.
PCC is at the same time commanding the WASH Media Network for placing special focus in terms of information, education and awareness on sanitation, something the PCC said has contributed immensely to improved sanitation in the city.
Meanwhile In an interview with WASH Journalists, some of the residents described the timely manner in which the garbage is been pick up and dispose as a life saving venture that the Paynesville has embarked on.
The residents said the condition along the roadside was very appalling and unhealthy for the community with the present of garbage in the area over a protracted period of time.
They praised commended the WASH Media for their robust reportage on the condition of the community due to huge present of garbage in the Jacob Town Community.
