The Liberia Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Commission to has begun a three-day Joint Sector Review Conference, held under the theme, “Enhancing Uptake In Sustainable Access To WASH Services Across Liberia”.
The conference is being held at the EJS Ministerial Complex in Congo Town with the objective of validating the findings from the WASH sector performance report and to develop specific recommendations to guide the sector forward in its five-year plan.
Speaking on Tuesday at the opening of the conference, the CEO of WASH Commission, Bobby Whitfield, disclosed that the Joint Sector Review Conference is an opportunity for Liberians to take ownership of the process that is needed to mitigate challenges in the WASH sector.
According to him, the JSR is an opportunity for Liberians to have access to decent sanitation, safe-drinking water and end open defecation for all Liberians across the country, noting that this can only be done if stakeholders in the sector work together.
At the same time, the Mayor of Paynesville, E. Pam Belcher-Taylor, has underscored the need to educate the public on the dangers of open defecation in waterways and disposing wastes in wetlands and rivers.
According to her, until there is a pipe-borne water throughout the country there will be problem with safe-drinking water.
She further noted that awareness should be raised about hygiene and sanitation to ensure that the issue of open defecation is stopped in environment and communities across the country.
At the same time, the Head of UNICEF Liberia, Jagadishwar Barun, said the review is to validate the finding from WASH Sector Performance Report and develop recommendations to guide the sector forward for the next five years.
He added that the joint sector review is expected to assess the sector’s ability to galvanize support for the delivery of WASH services in a coordinated manner, among others.
Barun empathized that the 5th Joint Sector Review can only be achieved with the participation, contribution and commitment of stakeholders in WASH sector of the country.