For the past two decades, residents of the Slipway Community have faced a severe public health crisis.
Residents have often relied on open drainage channels for their daily water need.
The situation has sparked widespread calls for action, as families demand a single hand pump to provide clean drinking water.
They described the situation as a “necessary lifeline after 20 years of drinking the near poison water source.”
Located on the outskirts of Monrovia, the Slipway Community has grown significantly from just a few dozen houses to a largely inhabited shantytown.
The drainage channels are notorious for carrying runoff from nearby homes, markets, and roads, posing serious health risks to the inhabitants.
“We are not asking for a large pipe-borne system. Just one hand pump for the over 300 residents,” said Melvin Brown.
Local leaders have taken steps to address the issue, submitting letters to the Ministry of Public Works, and the Monrovia City Corporation every year since 2018, seeking assistance to install a safe water source.
However, Brown said, their requests have gone unanswered, leaving the community in confusion.
This cycle of sickness and missed opportunities traps families in poverty, further exacerbating the community’s struggles.
In light of the urgent need, community members have appealed to non-governmental organizations, charities, and diaspora Liberians for support, at least to install a hand pump before the onset of the next rainy season.