Monrovia then and now – Liberia news The New Dawn Liberia, premier resource for latest news

The gradual but steady effort by the Government of Liberia to rescue Monrovia, Liberia’s historic capital of garbage and leaking sewage, has begun to pay off, with visible facelifts in several quarters here. 

Monrovia, Liberia, May 23, 2024—Energy, sanitation, and health are among the key sectors of the Government of Liberia’s 100-Day Deliverable Action Plan. These sectors are integral to human existence and align with the Boakai Administration’s ARREST Mission for the Liberian people.

As the government catalogs successes of its first 100 days in office amid huge challenges, it views sanitation and the environment as critical to building a healthy society where everyone can live a healthy life. Thus, it hit the ground running even before the official inauguration in January this year when it mobilized young people to clean drainages along the streets of Monrovia voluntarily.

The administration is very resolute in cleaning the city of excess sewage spillage, which contains feces water. This water has polluted nearly every street, oozing a disgusting odor into the air.

Sewage lines have commenced cleaning across central Monrovia, and the Liberia Water and Sewer Corporation has commissioned four additional sewer tankers to facilitate the cleaning of sewerage across Monrovia and its environs.

Besides addressing the sanitary condition, the government is restoring running water to Central Monrovia, improving supply to Bushrod Island, and extending to Kakata in Margibi County and Buchanan in Grand Bassa County, respectively. In addition, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is decentralizing its activities. A National Environmental Policy Council has been established to direct and guide EPA’s policies.

Sewage is 20% completed and is expected to significantly increase with water reservoirs in Monrovia and Paynesville repaired at 95% and are being tested, while the Caldwell water facility has been significantly repaired.

In the energy sector, the Boakai Administration is moving to address the country’s electricity challenge, which is affecting big and small businesses and raising security issues.

The government, through the Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC), has negotiated for an increase in power capacity from Cote D’Ivoire Energies from 25 Megawatt to 50 Megawatts besides launching a project to electrify area covering St. Paul Bridge to Po River and gap areas along the Kakata corridor, including Johnsonville Township and Careysburg District in Montserrado County, as well as Marshall Township, Roberts International Airport (RIA) and Edward Binyan Kesselly Barracks that are currently connected to the National Electricity Grid.

In the mining sector, the Ministry of Mines & Energy (MME) has completed compiling Mining Licenses into categories, including capacity needs assessment, and has initiated a baseline review process to formalize artisanal mining.

Cognizant of the saying that health is wealth, the government is keen on leading a healthy population and has waged war on substance abuse by declaring drug abuse a National Public Health Emergency and calling on officials to go for drug tests with President Boakia and Vice President Koung leading the battle.

The administration has also rehabilitated people with Substance Use Disorder (SUD), provided mental health education and medication, and secured land for the construction of a National Referral Neuropsychiatric Hospital in Liberia while commissioning the Ministry of Health personnel management system audit.

It has also commissioned the National supply of medicines and medical consumables, monitored stock levels and consumption patterns, and strengthened the sector’s inventory management system.

It has established Regional Diagnostic Centers, supplied diagnostic equipment, rapid test kits, reagents, and other laboratory supplies for effective diagnosis at all service delivery levels, and improved the quality of care at major referral health facilities.

Mental health and substance abuse awareness was conducted in 26 high schools, 4 churches, two mosques, and 8 radio stations. School health clubs were initiated within 20 high schools in Montserrado to encourage peer monitoring and promote healthy habits among students.

The administration has secured 15 domestic scholarships annually through the Ministry of Education for Mental Health Clinicians to pursue Master’s degree in Advanced Practice Clinical Psychiatric Mental Health with agreement secured with partners for the purchase of medications used in treating Substance Use Disorder, 50-acre of public land identified in Bentol, Montserrado County to construct a National Referral Neuropsychiatric Hospital, while audit of payrolls and personnel are ongoing, and essential medicines and medical supplies distributed 100% to drug depots in 13 counties around the country.

For instance, the distribution of supplies by Last Mile to Montserrado and Margibi Counties has been achieved 100%, while up to 95% of essential and tracer medicines and medical supplies to Last Mile public health facilities around the country have been completed, and all public health facilities have tracer medicines and essential medicines, while sites have been identified for the construction of four (4) regional diagnostic centers in the country

Besides, a consignment of rapid diagnostic test kits was distributed to 70% of clinics and communities nationwide, including assorted diagnostic equipment and supplies distributed to 85% of hospitals and health centers. Report compiled by Jonathan Browne