The head of the National Water Sanitation and Hygiene Commission (NWASHC), Bobby Whitfield, says safe and clean water is still a major challenge in the country.
Observing World Water Day which was celebrated on March 22 at the Paynesville City Hall under the global theme; ‘Valuing water’ beginning with a parade from the ELWA Junction, Whitfield said over one million of Liberians still do not have access to safe and purified water.
The NWASHC boss said the World Water Day celebration in Liberia sent a louder message that it is due to the many challenges confronting the sector ranging from low budgetary allotment, logistic and manpower among other things that continue to stall the gains in the WASH sector.
However, Whitfield assured Liberians that the Weah-led Government is working very closely with their development partners and other international donors to ensure that Liberia gets access to safe and clean water by 2030.
Guest speaker Frank Saah-Foko noted that the celebration of the World Water Day is timely because it is essential to human health and the economy and acknowledged the NWASH Commission boss and his team for regulating the sector despite the limited resources.
Meanwhile, the Montserrado County lawmaker has also promised to lobby with his colleagues for the increment of the NWASHC budget to enable the commission to operate smoothly and effectively.
It can be recalled that in 1993, the United Nations set aside March 22, as a day to be celebrated as World Water Day aimed at raising awareness for the over 2.2 billion people living without access to safe water and a core focus to support the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goal 6: ‘Water and sanitation for all by 2030.’