Raw Sewage Gushes Out on Johnson, Broad Streets

Where is Ministry of Health?

In line with a new policy, the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare says it is shifting its focus from curative medicine to preventive medicine. In other words, it will  effect  several measures through public campaigns, for example, to minimize the  outbreak of common illnesses like diarrhea, cholera which often take huge toll on the population, mainly children and infants, but can be prevented if  the right things are done, like  ensuring  clean environment, among other measures. Good news.

But from all indications, the ministry’s fight will remain an uphill battle as Monrovia’s 1.1 million inhabitants continue to be battled by potential health hazards, including the frequent scene of raw sewage flowing from burst septic tanks and manholes in parts of the city, even Broad Street, Monrovia’s busiest avenue.

“I feel bad, but what can I do?,” asked Monica Davis siting by a stream of feces flowing from Kashouh Building, an office flat at the intersection of Broad and Johnson streets in central Monrovia.

Monica, who sells soft drinks, cold water and flavored juices, says they (street peddlers) in the area  have repeatedly  complained  to the management of the  office flat  about the hazard, but there has been no redress.

Despite the gushing feces, street peddlers are busy attending to their businesses. Bread and other food stuffs are marketed here amidst the flowing sewage from Kashoush Building.

The office flat is said to be managed by Bestman Agency, but attempt by the New Liberia to talk to the management proved fruitless, as a lady in its offices said the manager or head was not present.

But the experience of Kashoush Building is just one of similar scenes in the capital and its environs.   Like Monica, this paper can only ask: where is the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, or the Liberia Water and Sewer Corporation or better still the Monrovia City Corporation?  When will either of these institutions or all of them timely respond to save the population of a potential outbreak of epidemic? Writes Peter A. Fahn