Wash cardinal to human existence

British charity Water Aid Liberia says access to safe Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) remains cardinal. Water Aid Liberia Deputy Country Director Chuchu K. Selma warned here on Friday, 16 June that every year thousands of children die globally as a result of poor sanitation and lack of clean water.

Mr. Selma was speaking at the Capitol Building during the official launch of the Legislative WASH Network by a local NGO group named United Youth for Peace, Education and Transparency and Development in Liberia (UYPETDL).

The Water Aid official suggested that the issue of WASH must be taken into serious consideration, noting that there is no child that could survive without clean water and adequate sanitation.

He has stressed his organization’s supports to citizens here and promised to work with lawmakers to ensure that the Water and Sanitation Act be passed for the benefit of the Liberian people.

Mr. Selma said argued that the importance of WASH in the society cannot be overemphasized on grounds that it is cardinal to the existence of human being.

He says Water Aid is a member of the Liberia WASH Consortium, adding that they have been supporting the WASH sector since 2007. According to him, six International NGOs are working together to support the WASH sector here to see how progress can be made in the sector.

He further promised that his organization will continue to support the initiative of the local NGO group UYPETDL, working along with them to provide the necessary information that needed to strengthen its work at the Legislature.

Mr. Selam noted that the group will also be advocating ensuring adequate budgetary allocation for the sector, targeting national and local budget as well as overseas development aid for the sector, including the decentralization and information management of WASH services in Liberia’s 15 counties.

The charity indicated that the major barrier it has is to ensure water, sanitation and health programs are implemented effectively.

But he assured that Water Aid will continue to engage donors to influence government to ensure that it meets up with commitments made that are aimed at improving the WASH sector of Liberia.

By Lewis S. Teh