By Bill W. Cooper
Several residents are growing increasingly frustrated and have alarmed over the potential for a disease outbreak due to the stockpile of garbage in Red-light market and its surrounding, coupled with some parts of Paynesville City.
The accumulation of waste in these areas has reached critical levels, posing a serious health risk to residents and the wider community, with authorities of the Paynesville City Cooperation (PCC) doing nothing to address the situation.
The situation in Red-light and Paynesville, according to our reporter who toured those vicinity, has been deteriorating for some time now, with piles of garbage lining the streets and overflowing from the limited bins situated at some points.
Accordingly, the lack of proper waste management infrastructure and services in these areas has further exacerbated the problem, leading to a build-up of trash that is now threatening public health.
Residents in those affected areas have now expressed their concerns about the potential for a disease outbreak if the garbage is not promptly removed, and with the rainy season, there are fears that the waste will attract insects which might result into another sickness outbreak.
One resident, Mary Johnson, said she is worried about the health risks posed by the garbage and emphasized, “The smell is unbearable, and I am worried about the diseases that could spread from all this trash. We need urgent action to clean up the area before it’s too late.”
Johnson also frowned on the fact that local authorities have been slow to respond to the crisis, which they attributed to the lack of equipment, resources, and funding for waste management services.
She, at the same time, noted that they as residents of the Paynesville belt, precisely the Red-light Market, are growing increasingly frustrated with the lack of action, thus calling on the government for immediate intervention to address the problem.
Meanwhile, the situation has also caught the attention of health experts, who warn of the potential for a disease outbreak if the garbage is not removed promptly, considering our country’s fragile and broken health system.
Cecelia Kollie further highlighted the risks associated with the accumulation of waste in urban areas and asserted, “Garbage can attract rats, flies, and other pests that can carry diseases such as cholera, typhoid, and malaria.”
According to the public health expert, it is crucial that the waste is removed as soon as possible to prevent the spread of these illnesses, which she alarmed might cost the lives of many Liberians on the eventuality of any outbreak.
However, all efforts exerted to speak to authorities of the PCC proved futile as their communication person’s contact numbers were all off till press time, but this paper will continue to exert efforts to get the side of the government.
With the alarming situation amidst the rainy season, residents are skeptical about the PCC’s ability to effectively tackle the problem with many feeling that more needs to be done to prevent a potential disease outbreak and protect public health in the affected areas.
The garbage situation however serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for improved waste management services in Liberia, because without proper infrastructure and resources, the country risks facing a public health crisis that could have devastating consequences.
As the rainy season approaches, the pressure is mounting on the PCC to take decisive action to clean up the garbage and prevent a potential disease outbreak, least to mention that the health and well-being of residents in Red-light and Paynesville now hang in the balance.
