By: Christiana Mabande
Liberia has the lowest coverage of water, sanitation, and hygiene services in sub-Saharan Africa, with only 75.3% of the population accessing basic water services 18.2% having basic sanitation, and 37% still practicing open defecation. Water quality in Liberia is impacted by mining, agrochemical runoff, and industrial activities, particularly rubber processing, leading to iron ore pollution.
Tete Gbayoe is a farmer in District One Margibi County. She said not only farmers impacted by the prevailing situation but also the lack of safe drinking water is resulting in a high prevalence of waterborne diseases in the area.
Groundwater, used by 70% of rural and urban populations, contains E. Coli in all unprotected wells, 52% of protected hand-dug wells, and 44% of drilled wells, according to a 2011 survey.
The WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Program reported that 75% of Liberians have access to basic drinking water levels as of 2020. Many individuals in this area and other parts of rural Liberia still drink from a creek used for washing, cooking, bathing, and other things.
Two years ago, Tete lost her five-year-old grandson to diarrhea which she thought was a result Of tears rolling down her cheeks of Tete, she explained that she lost her five-year-old grandson who died from diarrhea because of the lack of health centers in the area.
Tete furthered that the only hand pump that served the community got damaged and till now, they have to embark on this 45-minute walk to bring water from the creek for use.
“As I speak to you, we are worried because we are not even sure that the rainwater we are drinking is saved because it can touch the old zinc before entering the gallons, there is no hospital and the distance from the village to the main road is very far so bikes hardly come in”, Tete narrates.
