The recent tragic death of Ms. Comfort Paye, a woman in her 40s, due to complications during childbirth while being transported in an ambulance that got stuck on a dilapidated bridge in Garplay Town, Nimba County, points out the urgent need for improved road infrastructure, particularly in rural areas. We believe this unfortunate incident serves as a reminder of the life-threatening consequences of neglected road maintenance and its impact on access to essential healthcare services.
As many would do, the community members in Garplay Town expressed deep sorrow over the preventable loss of Ms. Comfort’s life, attributing the incident to the long-standing neglect of critical infrastructure such as the deteriorating bridge. It is disheartening to note that Ms. Comfort’s death could have been avoided if the necessary repairs and maintenance had been carried out on time.
The maternal mortality rate in Liberia remains alarmingly high, with many women losing their lives due to preventable pregnancy-related causes. The lack of proper road connectivity between communities and health facilities exacerbates this issue, as seen in the case of Ms. Comfort Paye. The government must take immediate action to address the inadequate road conditions that endanger the lives of women and other vulnerable populations in rural areas.
For us, we believe the pathetic incident accentuates the need for improved access to healthcare facilities, especially for pregnant women in remote areas. Maternity Waiting Homes (MWH) play a crucial role in bridging the gap in obstetric care and ensuring safe deliveries for high-risk women. However, the lack of proper road infrastructure hinders the effectiveness of such facilities and puts the lives of expectant mothers at risk.
We call on the government to prioritize the rehabilitation and construction of major roads that lead to health facilities in rural areas, to prevent future tragedies like the death of Ms. Comfort Paye. Road infrastructure projects must be not politicized but are carried out promptly and efficiently to save lives and improve access to healthcare services for all citizens.
On January 22, 2024, the Unity Party Alliance (UPA) led Government was inaugurated with Mr. Joseph Boakai as President of the Republic of Liberia. In his inaugural and State of the Nation addresses, the President committed to carrying out several interventions in critical priority sectors within his first 100 days in office to create immediate relief as well as to restore citizens’ confidence in the Government.
The strategic design of the 100-Day Action Plan was based on a deep understanding of the current governance and microeconomic situation and the challenges that needed immediate action. Rooted in the vision of the Unity Party Alliance (UPA) campaign manifesto and its Agriculture, Roads, Rule of Law, Education, Sanitation and Health, Tourism (ARREST) framework.
In its 100-Day Action Plan assessment report, the Government of Liberia praised itself as the report states that it has, within a short period, they have rehabilitated roads, improved transparency and accountability in the governance space by enforcing the rule of law, strengthening financial oversight, and promoting ethical practices across all sectors to combat corruption effectively.
“The total number of interventions in the 100-Day Action Plan is 87. There are 20 funded interventions constituting 23 percent of the total while the remaining 67 interventions are routine, representing 77 percent. The status of the interventions is either completed, ongoing, or pending. The ongoing and completed constitute the progress made so far. The report combines the completed and ongoing interventions because some interventions such as road maintenance, drainage, and sewage cleaning are ongoing. Therefore, the combined number of completed and ongoing interventions is 64 which constitutes 74 percent of the total interventions; while the remaining 20 interventions representing 26 percent are pending. The pending routine interventions were delayed because the government was still being constituted, delays due to the recalling of the budget, and funding constraints.“
Under Road (Infrastructure), the government notes that Critical spots across the country are currently being aggressively worked on in anticipation of the rainy season (clearing, grading, shaping, and stabilizing of critical spots are ongoing). Critical spots across the country are being maintained and made pliable.
Like former President George who in his early days in of ice was venerated and branded as “Bad road medicine” for some community road works, Boakai supporters too are now celebrating him for road rehabilitation even though women continue to die before or after childbirth due to bad roads. We believe the issue of roads has long been politicized as politicians have found pleasure in being complacent with minor projects.
Unfortunately, they ignore the vivid fact that the issue of giving birth has been more like risking death, especially in rural Liberia, due to bad road connectivity. At this point, we believe that the death of Ms. Comfort Paye should serve as a wake-up call for government officials and policymakers to take concrete actions to address the critical road infrastructure challenges facing rural communities.
We believe the time for rhetoric is over; it is time for tangible results and meaningful investments in road rehabilitation to ensure the safety and well-being of all citizens, especially those in remote areas who rely on these vital transport links for access to healthcare.
Representative
