Residents of Montserrado District #8 have raised concerns about the sanitation crisis in their community, which has forced many to practice open defecation close to water sources. This poses a significant risk to the health and well-being of children, who are particularly vulnerable to waterborne diseases.
Speaking to a reporter in Monrovia on December 29, 2025, community chairperson Mamie Zommeh said the lack of modern toilets in District #8 has been a long-standing issue for over a decade, noting that open defecation near water sources causes contamination and increases the risk of waterborne diseases such as cholera, diarrhea, and dysentery. These diseases can be life-threatening, especially for underage children. Despite repeated calls for action, lawmakers and national government have continued to ignore the issue, leaving residents to suffer.
According to Zommeh, most residents, particularly women and children, are forced to use buckets as toilets and then throw the waste into the river. This is not only unhygienic but also poses serious health risks to the community.
Another resident, Elizabeth Touledee, emphasized the urgent need for the government to take action, calling for it to focus on addressing the issue of modern toilets rather than celebrating Christmas parties and donating rice. Touledee highlighted the financial burden on residents, who must pay 30 Liberian Dollars to use a privately owned toilet, leaving others who cannot afford it with no alternative to ease themselves along the river.
she expressed frustration with the lack of progress on the issue, stating that the Monrovia City Corporation had broken ground for a community toilet, but nothing has been done since then. “Our community is an urban community, but we still don’t have a toilet. My son has to pay 30 Liberian Dollars every time he wants to use the restroom,” she said.
The residents of District #8 are calling on the government to take immediate action to address the lack of modern toilets in their community. They are demanding that the government provide modern toilets and improve sanitation facilities in the area.
By Joseph Sirleaf, Contributing Writer
