originally posted on June 2, 2016

Residents of Kuwah Town located in Kpatolie Clan, Salala District, Lower Bong, are still drinking from streams and nearby creeks because they lack a source of safe drinking water in the area. The residents are appealing to the government to provide them with at least a hand pump that

will provide them with safe drinking water, Liberian News Agency (LINA) Margibi County correspondent has reported.

During the peak of the dry season the residents, according to LINA, found it very difficult, if not impossible, to find safe drinking water.

Kuwah Town Chief Bigboy George told LINA that his town not only lacks access to safe drinking water, but also good roads, clinics and schools which, he said, subjects the inhabitants to severe hardships.

Town Chief George said the only hand pump in town, installed long ago by a local non-governmental organization, has since broken leaving the over 500 households compelled to draw a bucket of drinking water every day from nearby streams.

The residents, said Chief George, have to depend on medical services from clinics in neighboring towns after walking several hours.

“If a woman is about six months pregnant, she and her husband will have to relocate to a nearby clinic facility to avoid any unforeseen situation,” the Chief explained.

Kuwah Town currently has a population of over 600 persons, but according to the Chief, the only elementary school building in the town lacks furniture and all basic instructional materials, with one instructor assigned to teach the entire school.