Liberia: Wash Media Network Launches Lecture Series

The WASH Reporters and Editors Network of Liberia has officially launched the Samuel H. Pieh WASH Media Interactive Lecture series at a well attended program held at the offices of the WASH media group in Monrovia.

The launch of the WASH Lecture series in honor of the outgoing Liberia WASH Consortium Coordinator, comes barely a week, after Mr. Pieh was honored by the WASH Media Network for his numerous and tremendous contributions to the WASH sector of the country.

Speaking at Program making the launch of the lecture series, the Chairman of the WASH Reporters and Editors Network of Liberia, Mr. Augustine Myers described the launch of the lecture series as historical and a significant mile stone in the history of water, sanitation and hygiene in Liberia, Africa and the World.

Mr. Myers said the launch of the lecture series marked the birth of series of activities that are intended to ensure a robust media attention on the WASH sector of the country.

The Chairman of the WASH media group said, the organization feels pride to launch such a program in honor of the outgoing Liberia WASH Consortium Coordinator for the passion the WASH Champion has shown in the drive of making safe drinking water, improved sanitation and hygiene to Liberian in respectively of age, gender or title.

Mr. Myers further said the honoring of Mr. Pieh is also based on his enterprising and motivational role played in the sector and for encouraging the media to create the passion for the WASH sector of Liberia.

He disclosed that the lecture series will bring together actors in the WASH on a monthly basis to show case issues in the sector ranging from programs, challenges, successes and a way forward in the sector.

Chairman Myers said the lecture series will provide an opportunity for stake holders to share their experiences in the sector of the country and provide expert opinions as it relates to the upliftment of the sector.

Launching the Samuel H. Pieh WASH interactive Lecture Series, Deputy Public Works Minister for rural Development, Christian Herbert, commended the WASH Champion for his contributions made in the sector of Liberia over the years.

Deputy Minister Herbert said, the Ministry of Public Works and the Liberian government are very pride of the outgoing Liberia WASH Consortium coordinator foot prints he has left on the soil of the Liberia in the WASH sector.

He disclosed that in time passed in Liberia, many people ignored the issues of WASH with the perception that Liberia has abundance of water and there was no need of giving priority to WASH issues in the country.

The Deputy Public Works boss said with such attention that is being created and the level of advocacy that is ongoing concerning WASH issues the signals are very clear that WASH is taken its rightful place in the country.

Deputy Minister Herbert used the occasion to encourage the WASH media group to continue their good work in bringing out issues that are relevant to the sector with the aim of buttressing the efforts of government, stake holders, policy makers, development partners and the civil society.

Making remarks at the program, the President of the Press union of Liberia, Mr. Peter Quaqua, praised the media group for taking interest in devoting the reportage in the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene sector of the country.

Mr. Quaqua, said seeing a group of journalist specializing in a particular sector of the country is admirable and an opportunity for journalists who are specialized to give expert opinion on critical issues in the society.

The PUL boss reminded WASH journalists to attach about importance to the WASH in the country, stressing that the lecture series will bring to the spot light issues that are affecting the citizens of in the sector.

In separate remarks, the Filed Operations Manager of Corporative Housing Foundation International, Leroy Johnson and the head of the Liberia NGOS Network and member of the Liberia CSOS WASH Network, John Jukon praised the media group for embarking on such a venture.

Messrs Johnson and Jukon also used the occasion to thank Mr. Samuel Pieh for the legacy he has left on the soil of Liberia,.

They called on the media group to make the lecture series more interactive, by providing the opportunity for the less privileged, especially people who are experiencing most difficult WASH issues to share their experience and views during lecture series.

Historicizing the Donor conference held two years ago in Liberia, the WASH Champion revealed that a speech delivered by Liberia’s public Works Minister Koffi Woods, also served as a zest in pushing the issues of WASH at top of the agenda.

According to the outgoing Liberia WASH Consortium coordinator, Samuel Pieh, the formation of the WASH media group was not a mistake, cause it has served its purpose by spreading the knowledge and education necessary for Liberians about WASH.

Mr. Pieh said the media group has played a lead role ensuring that the citizenry are educated about issues surrounding the WASH sector of the country.

The WASH Champion disclosed that the WASH Reporters and editors Network of Liberia has made a tremendous contribution to the issues of behavior and attitudinal change amongst Liberians about water, sanitation and hygiene.

Mr. Pieh said acess to safe drinking water, improved sanitation and hygiene are the basic ingredients to the development of any nation.

The WASH Champion said, the construction of hospitals, universities and factories are insignificant if safe water, sanitation and hygiene are not giving priority.

He assured the media group and the WASH sector of his commitment to highlight plight of the sector with the intent of galvanizing support for the sector.