Monrovia, Liberia, September 27, 2024
As part of the U.S. Government’s commitment to improving sanitation and public health in Liberia, the USAID-funded Countywide Sanitation Activity (CWSA) has partnered with African United for Progress (AUP) to provide roofing materials for vulnerable households in Todee District, rural Montserrado County. This initiative supports the USG’s larger goal of ending open defecation and ensuring healthier living conditions across Liberia.
Despite Liberia’s public health law mandating that every household must build and maintain a toilet, financial challenges continue to prevent many families from complying. According to the 2021 Liberia Sanitation Market Assessment, 1.8 million people still practice open defecation, putting their health and that of their children at significant risk. The U.S. Government, through USAID, is addressing this critical issue by supporting vulnerable households that cannot afford to construct basic sanitation facilities.
In partnership with AUP, which provided 3,400 square feet of metal roofing sheets valued at USD$29,512 (covering 63% of the total cost), USAID complemented the effort by funding the remaining 37% (US$17,566) to covered the cost of supplying assorted roofing materials and payment to skilled laborers for installation of toilet roof structures in three rural communities: Back Camp, Yakpazuah Town, and Freeman Town. Over 16 days, these materials were used to complete roofing for 85 households, helping to bridge the gap between access to sanitation products and the construction of proper toilet facilities.
The roofing initiative targets households that had already invested in the SaTo Pan, known locally as the “Quee” Toilet, but lacked the resources to roof their toilets. The “Quee” Toilet, introduced to Liberia through USAID's Countywide Sanitation Activity in 2022, has quickly gained popularity due to its innovative design, which prevents the entry of flies, roaches, and odors, creating a more sanitary and dignified option for rural communities. This product is now widely available across CWSA’s intervention counties—Bong, Lofa, Nimba, Grand Bassa, and rural Montserrado—thanks to USG-supported initiatives that make it both affordable and accessible.
“The roofing of these toilets, made possible by USAID’s support, will stop people from defecating in the bushes,” said Junior Nelson, the town chief of Back Camp. Nelson added that the visible progress in roofing has encouraged more residents to purchase “Quee” Toilets, with several households now actively constructing their sanitation facilities thanks to this U.S. Government-backed initiative.
This roofing effort is part of the broader U.S. Government-funded campaign to eliminate open defecation in Liberia, improve sanitation, and promote public health. Through the Countywide Sanitation Activity, USAID and its partners are empowering vulnerable households with the resources and tools needed to build and maintain proper sanitation facilities, ultimately contributing to safer, healthier communities.
Contact:
Abraham Nyorkor, Learning and Communications Manager, CWSA
Source: Liberian Observer
