By Gibao Brima

It’s an undeniable fact that despite water is in abundance in this country and considered being a fundamental human right for every human, unfortunately, Sierra Leoneans are still struggling to have access to clean and safe drinking water.

As a result, most of the country’s population especially women and children are facing the brunt because they sometimes have to trek long distances at odd hours to fetch water. The resultant effect has been grave with children particularly falling prey to wicked people who take advantage of their vulnerability. Girls are often raped leading to unwanted pregnancies.

Sierra Leone is one of the countries in West Africa that receives the highest average of rainfall per annum, but ironically, its population remains struggling to have access to this God-given endowment. Even the desert ridden countries like Mali and Senegal where water remain a treasure, are far better than

Sierra Leone where there are several sources of this precious mineral including rivers, streams, hills and mountains given credence to the popular adage, “Amidst plenty people continue to suffer.”

Unlike, Sierra Leone the aforementioned countries can boast of the availability of pipe borne water for residents especially in their capitals.

Water shortage in Sierra Leone more especially during the dry season has remained an insurmountable challenge for previous as well as the present administration to deal with even though it has pledged commitment to allocate reasonable budget through the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) being one of its pillars.

Even the establishment of Guma Valley Water Company (GVWC) for the supply of water mainly in the capital city and the Sierra Leone Water Company (SALWACO) for the rural communities has not helped to salvage this protracted water crisis, which is why people have called on these vital entities to brace up by applying different but workable strategies if possible to find another source in addition to Guma.

It is time Guma and SLWACO to take the bull by the horn to help improve on their services to save the lives of Sierra Leoneans.