By: Sampson Weah
MONROVIA – Residents of the Soniwein Community are urgently appealing to the Government of Liberia to take swift action in addressing the unsanitary conditions caused by the community’s deteriorating drainage system.
Local leaders and residents say that the blocked and poorly maintained drains are causing serious health hazards, particularly for vulnerable groups like women and children.
Madam Esther Miller, the Chairlady of the Soniwein Community, spoke out during an interview with the Liberia Excellent News Network, expressing her concern for the safety and well-being of her neighbors. “Our children fall sick every day because of the bad odor coming from the drainage system,” she said, adding that the raw sewage and waste in the drainage are contributing to the spread of diseases.
“The drains are breeding grounds for mosquitoes and other insects that carry illnesses. This is a public health emergency that needs immediate attention.”
While the government has made some efforts to clean the drainage, Miller stressed that these efforts are not enough. She made a heartfelt plea to the government, asking for further intervention to ensure a cleaner and safer environment for all residents.
“We are calling on the government to please fence the drainage for the safety of our families and visitors,” she urged.
Residents are particularly concerned about the safety of their children. Patience Kyne, a mother who has lived in the community for seven years, shared her worries about the dangers posed by the open drains.
“We, the adults, can manage, but the children cannot. Many times, children fall into the drains and get hurt,” she said. “During the rainy season, the entire community gets flooded, and the situation worsens. Our children even bathe in the dirty drainage water.”
Madam Linda Kaikah, the Officer-in-Charge of the Soniwein Community Health Center, also weighed in, acknowledging the efforts of the Ministry of Public Works but emphasizing the ongoing challenges.
“Before my tenure, we were treating over 200 patients for diseases like malaria and diarrhea,” Kaikah revealed. “But since the drainage cleanup campaign began, that number has dropped to 110. It’s an improvement, and we encourage the community to continue coming in for check-ups.”
Despite these positive signs, Kaikah believes more needs to be done, especially during the rainy season when flooding exacerbates the problem.
The community has shown strong support for the cleanup campaign, and residents remain hopeful that with further government intervention, Soniwein can become a safer, healthier place to live.
As the rainy season continues and the health risks persist, the residents of Soniwein are hoping their calls for help will be heard, ensuring that immediate action is taken to protect their community, especially the most vulnerable among them.
