Sustained cleanliness in Monrovia and its environ is a general concern but seems far-fetched as the government is overwhelmed as to how to handle the huge stockpiles of garbage that is gradually turning into a new normal thereby greeting the Weah-led government.
Women and children are the ones who mostly come face to face with the huge stockpile of dirt on a daily basis because of their roles in society.
Women have to attend to household chores as well as go to markets and take kids to school while children play at home and in school regardless of the filth and health hazards related to coming in contact with garbage which they cannot avert.
The World Health Organization’s Report, 2008 says Liberians suffer from high mortality and morbidity, resulting from a combination of poor living conditions and lack of quality health care and that report outlined infectious diseases as a major contributor to ill health and loss of productivity; for example, it noted that one-third of Liberians suffer from malaria each year.
The Nancy B. Doe General Market is a typical example of an unhealthy environment as the leadership and marketers continue to complain about the garbage being stockpiled within its locality in Sinkor with calls that the government prioritizes the cleanliness of the premises by putting in place mechanisms to prevent the garbage from overstaying in its premises as it also host school-going kids.
The Nancy B. Doe Market which is one of Liberia’s biggest markets was established in 1980 under the leadership of Liberia’s former President, the late Samuel K. Doe and it is located in Sinkor, Monrovia and it is said to have been serving the people of Liberia since its existence.
The Greater Great School System which is a nursery to junior high school catering for children between ages 3-15 years is also within the premises of the market and during school hours, the kids are required to remain on campus which is without doubt that they are forced to encounter (directly or indirectly) the garbage which sometimes get soaked as a result of the rainfall and that causes the dirt to spill over along with the infectious water.
The Greater Great School System has been operating for over 20 years right in the heart of the market and its purpose is to ensure that those who sell within the premises of the market especially women, have their children close by and are able to reach them in times of emergencies.
Speaking with the school’s Principle Pastor Melclaim J. Via, emphasized that knowing that the garbage poses serious and major danger to the hygiene and sanitation status of everyone; the students are prevented from playing in the backyard of the market premises where the garbage is located.
The principle added that it is only by the grace of God that parents have not complained about their child or children getting sick as a result of the garbage adding that, that is why they are keen on where the kids play within the premises of the market.
He expressed his dissatisfaction over the attitude of the community members and complained that the Monrovia City Cooperation (MCC) is not doing its job in order to ensure the protection of women and children as it relates to those who sell and go to school in such surroundings.
However, he said the school’s administration is in a close partnership with the leadership of the market in working together to ensure that the garbage is removed from the market premises.
In an interview with Famatta N. David, who said she has been selling in this market for the over 10 years, she explained her role as the Assistant Table Director for the market as making tables available for anyone who has interest to sell in the market.
Ma Famatta as she is referred to alarmed that the situation in the market is a serious issue which has led to the exodus of several marketers, especially women, who have been experiencing difficulties to get buyers to come at their various market tables and it has also been uncomfortable for them as they have to spend the entire day in the market; meaning they are forced to even eat in such filthy environment.
The Assistant Table Director added that her leadership has engaged the Liberia Marketing Association (LMA) and discussed ways to remove the garbage from the market and its surrounding premises.
She explained that the LMA along with the Monrovia City Major, Jefferson Koijee promised to have provided one of those huge dirt buckets so that the garbage are disposed in it before the truck goes to clear it out.
She said apparently it was because of those discussions that the dirt was removed but only once which has not brought any remedy to the situation because besides the marketers, residents around the market also dump their community household dirt within the market premises
Meanwhile, an aggrieved marketer identified as Ma Sarah Williams, expressed her disappointment over the stockpile of dirt at the market.
Ma Sarah Williams explained that since the George Weah-led government, the marketers have been suffering and eating in mess and threatened that at the end of September, she too will have to leave the market to find a suitable place to sell.
The marketers therefore, recommended that the community members be prevented from dumping dirt within the market premises and that the government should also designate a place for the residents to throw their waste instead of the market; by Decontee Karngar; USAID Media Activity project.
