By Ibrahim A. Sherif & Kimberlyn McKeever
MONROVIA, July 11 (LINA) – Residents of Whein Town in Paynesville City are calling on the Government of Liberia through the relevant authorities to shut down the garbage disposal site in the area, stating that the site is posing health threat to residents
The disposal site in Whein Town is currently being used by the Monrovia City Corporation (MCC) and the Paynesville City Cooperation (PCC) as a landfill site to manage garbage produced by the two cities.
Miatta Barlee, a resident of the area, who spoke to the Liberia News Agency (LINA) on Tuesday, said if nothing is done to shut down the disposal site it may soon lead to disease outbreak that could claim many lives.
According to Barlee, residents through the leadership have proposed to the MCC the construction of a mini-clinic that will address some of the health-related problems posed to the community as the result of the garbage disposal.
She indicated that although the MCC recently distributed some mosquito nets to residents who are living in proximity to the garbage site, it is not enough to address the health problems associated with the garbage.
Richmond Quartey, who is also a resident of Whein Town, told LINA that residents of the area held a Town Hall meeting with the MCC and put forth their concerns.
“The issue of health hazard may not affect us today, but may harm us in years to come. This issue has the propensity to affect even our unborn children,” he said.
However, MCC Public Relations Officer Whroway Bryant told LINA the MCC is working to ensure that the site is relocated from Whein Town to Cheesemanburg, Bomi County.
Bryant indicated that the Cheesemanburg disposal site project, which is currently under construction, is a US$17million undertaking that is being jointly sponsored by the World Bank and the Government of Liberia.
According to Bryant, the MCC along with its partners are exerting efforts to ensure the safety of residents of Whein Town.
“The Monrovia City Government has distributed mosquito nets to residents who live in proximity to the garbage disposal site as a quick impact project in order to prevent mosquito bites that may cause malaria, and the MCC has procured chlorine and other relevant materials needed to chlorinate wells in the town to prevent water-related diseases,” Bryant stated.
“The MCC is also negotiating with the Liberia Water and Sewer Corporation to facilitate the provision of safe drinking water to the town.”
LINA IAS/KM/CBN/WSG/PTK
