Liberia: WASH Media Forum Launched
…As Political Campaign Opens – By: Augustine N. Myers – As part of the official start of Presidential and Legislative campaign activities across the Country, the WASH Reporters & Editors Network of Liberia has announced the launch of an interactive dialogue Named and Styled, “WASH Media Forum” beginning July to October, 2011.
Cross session of members of the WASH R&E Network of Liberia
A release from the WASH R&E says, the WASH Media Forum will on a weekly basis bring together Representative, Senatorial and Presidential candidates to speak about their interest in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), and priorities given to the WASH sector in their respective platforms and manifestos.
The WASH Media Network said it will use the campaign activities from July to October to scrutinize the various political platforms of all the candidates to know their interest and plan for the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Sector of Liberia, to have them documented.
The WASH Media Forum will further afford the various Independent and Political Party candidates the opportunity to inform the Liberian people on how they intent to actualize their respective plans and vision for adequate access to Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), after they are elected as Representatives, Senators, or a President.
THE WASH R&E Network which comprises 50 media institutions said it will use the documented WASH issues to remind those that will win, and hold them accountable to ensuring the implementation and actualization of their campaign platforms and promises highlighted in their campaign promises.
The WASH R&E indicates that the issue of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) is very essential to Liberia’s progress, and hopes that the various Presidential, Senatorial and Representative Candidates will primarily focus special attention in their platforms and campaign activities, on WASH issues as well.
Being fully cognizant with the slogan: “Water is life and Sanitation is dignity”, the Network further quotes article 20 (a) of the Liberian constitution that: “No person shall be deprived of Life.” “Since Water is Life, it follows that nobody living in Liberia should be deprived of safe drinking water and access to improved sanitation and hygiene.”
According to the WASH Reporters & Editors Network of Liberia (WASH R&E), poor access to safe drinking water and sanitation services are said to be major causes of illness and poverty, not only in Liberia, but the world at large.
Inadequate and unsafe water, poor sanitation, and unsafe hygiene practices are the main causes of diarrhea, and are also linked to many other diseases that often kill children or stunt their development, including helminth infections, dracunculiasis, trachoma, cholera, fluorosis and arsenicosis, among others.
According to the WASH R&E, the Forum is also basically based on the fact that the Interim Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (IPRSP) which later began Government’s Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS) considered as Liberia’s road map towards achieving the MDGs, estimates that only 25 percent of Liberians have access to safe drinking water, just 14 percent have access to human waste collection and disposal facilities and 5% practice safe hygiene.
The WASH Media Group said, Liberia coming out of nearly fifteen years of civil war and conflict, the Country’s infrastructure was virtually destroyed and the delivery of public water supply and sanitation services were badly degraded, leaving access to safe drinking water and improved sanitation very difficult, especially for Liberians living in the remote parts of the Country (inaccessible areas).
The WASH Media Group is also cautioning eligible Liberian Voters to begin to engage the various Presidential, Senatorial and Representative Candidates, to ensure that Water, Sanitation and Hygiene issues are prioritized in their respective platforms.
WASH R&E pointed out that if Liberia should truly form part of the global village which targets 2015 through the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) for access to safe drinking water and improved sanitation and hygiene, the issue of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) must be given priority, especially during these political activities.
The WASH Reporters & Editors Network of Liberia is coordinated by the Liberia Media Empowerment & Advocacy Foundation (LIMEAF Inc.), which provides legal backing and manages the affairs of the Network with an initial membership of 50.
The objectives of the WASH R&E Network of Liberia include but not limited to:
>Increasing the understanding of journalists on water, sanitation and hygiene issues;
>Providing the platform for members to play their watchdog role in holding government and relevant stakeholders accountable to the people in the implementation of WASH Programs;
>Amplifying the voices of the hopeless or those that feel neglected; and
>Ensuring increased media coverage and reportage on the WASH Sector, among others.
Meanwhile, the National Elections Commission (NEC) has officially announced political campaign opened for the 2011 general and presidential elections across Liberia.
At the former program Tuesday, July 5, 2011 to mark the official launch of political campaign, NEC said the main objective is for political parties and aspirants to engage the voting population in explaining their platforms to them as a means of soliciting their votes.
About 29 political parties have so far been accredited by NEC to participate in the pending Presidential and General elections in Liberia.
