Over 4,000 Rural Residents Get Safe Drinking Water Following Media Report

Ben TC Brooks

River Gee County – [Sept. 25, 2025] – More than 4,000 residents of Lawrenceville Community in Fish-Town, River Gee County, are breathing a sigh of relief after years of battling with severe water shortages.

Their long struggle for safe drinking water has been eased with the rehabilitation of the community’s only hand pump following media report on September 1, 2025 by the Rural Reporters News Network.

The hand pump, originally constructed in 2011 by Welthungerhilfe (WHH), formerly known as German Agro Action (GAA), was the community’s primary source of safe drinking water.

When it broke down, it was never repaired, plunging residents into a worsening water crisis. For years, families were forced to depend on unsafe alternatives, such as shallow wells, exposing them to risks of waterborne diseases like diarrhea, typhoid, and cholera.

Community leaders say the breakdown of the pump had devastating impacts. “Our people suffered greatly during this period. We had no choice but to fetch water from contaminated wells. This created serious health concerns for the community,” said Community Chairman Ezekiel Twah Gbeh, reflecting on the hardship residents endured.

Another resident, Lawrence Totoe, added that many women and children bore the heaviest burden, often walking long distances in search of water for their families. “It was not just an inconvenience but a danger to our health and livelihoods,” he stressed.

However, relief finally came on September 24, 2025, when the Kuncare Foundation, an initiative led by Cllr. Kunkunyon Teh, dispatched technicians to rehabilitate the damaged hand pump after many years of struggles for safe drinking.

The intervention has restored access to safe drinking water, much to the joy and relief of community members.

Residents hailed the foundation for its timely action, noting that access to clean drinking water is a basic human need and a cornerstone of public health. “This repair is a blessing to us. We can now drink safe water again without fear of sickness,” said Ma. Oretha Chea.

The Kuncare Foundation’s intervention is part of its broader community development efforts in River Gee County, aimed at improving living conditions and promoting public health through practical support.