Tubmanburg, Bomi County — Students of the government-run C.H. Dewey High School in Tubmanburg are raising urgent alarm over the complete collapse of the school’s latrine facilities, describing their current situation as unsafe, embarrassing, and “unbearable.”
The appeal comes at a time when President Joseph Nyuma Boakai—who has family roots in Bomi County—is in Tubmanburg celebrating his 81st birthday and holding a Cabinet meeting, while Senator Edwin Melvin Snowe dedicates a new basketball court on the school’s campus.
But for the students, their most pressing need remains unattended. “We Have Nowhere to Pupu”
Several students who spoke to DN News Liberia revealed that all existing latrine units on the campus have broken down completely, forcing hundreds of school children to resort to nearby bushes for open defecation.
“We can use the bush to pupu since the bathroom spoiled. No bathroom for us to pupu. We are calling on Senators Snowe and Tyler and other leaders to help us fix our bathroom,”the students cried out in frustration.
The lack of proper sanitation facilities, they say, has exposed them to serious health risks and places female students, in particular, in vulnerable and unsafe situations.
Health and Safety Risks
Growing Open defecation around the school campus has raised concerns among teachers, parents, and health workers in the city.
The bushes where students relieve themselves have reportedly become breeding grounds for flies, snakes, and other unsafe elements.School authorities—who declined to speak formally—say they have consistently appealed for the renovation but the latrines remain unattended as new projects, such as sporting facilities, take precedence.
National Context
Liberia Still Battling Open DefecationThe situation at C.H. Dewey mirrors a broader national challenge.
Multiple independent research findings in 2024 show that about 1.8 million Liberians still practice open defecation, representing roughly 35% of the national population, with rural counties like Bomi recording some of the highest rates.
Health experts warn that the continued lack of proper sanitation, especially in schools, contributes to diarrheal diseases, infections, and high absenteeism among students.
A Call for Urgent Action
With President Boakai in the county for his birthday celebration and Cabinet activities—and with Senator Snowe’s new basketball court now open—students and residents are hoping their leaders will turn immediate attention to what they describe as the school’s “most critical need”: a functional, safe, and hygienic latrine.
Community members are urging county leaders, development partners, and the Ministries of Education and Public Works to intervene before the issue escalates into a public health crisis.
