As part of commitment to covering all spheres of society through its reportorial duty, the In Profile Daily over the year 2012 dedicated its front page to human interest stories every Friday, prioritizing individuals, communities and the environments that were news worthy. With the exit of 2012 and the entry of 2013, the paper has decided to feature some of the human interest stories captured during the year in review reflecting some of the entertaining and soul-touching events to remember.
Ailing Girl Seeks Survival
A seventeen year- old girl, who is suffering from enlarged heart and a failing liver, is making an SOS call to President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, other government officials and philanthropists for assistance to enable her seek medical attention abroad to regain her health and become productive citizen.
Mabel Boye, a resident of New Kru Town, told the In Profile Daily recently that she has been suffering from the illness which started as a stomach pain since February, 2007.
“I was living in Grand Kru County at the time when I developed persistent stomach pains and was told by a doctor to come to Monrovia for a check- up and get proper treatment”, the ailing lady narrated.
MsBoye said she could not come to Monrovia immediately per the doctor's advice due to financial incapability hence she turned to country herbs until 2009 when she was able to move to Monrovia.
According to her, upon arrival in Monrovia in July of 2009, she took chest x-ray at the John F. Kennedy Medical Center and was told that she was suffering from a life threatening heart disease that had caused Cardiomegaly or enlarged heart.
Disabled But Productive
In Liberia or perhaps other countries around the globe, physically challenged, visually impaired and speech impaired people are less attended to by national governments and state actors in creating or providing the necessary opportunities including scholarships and basic training as well as employment aimed at improving their living conditions.
During past administrations and now the current regime of President Ellen Johnson- Sirleaf, members of the Disabled Community continue to complain of marginalization and abandonment in the recovery and development processes, thereby constraining many to become street beggars.
However, despite the challenges people living with disabilities in Liberia are faced with, few are determined to make headways in the private or informal sector. One of such persons is a 23 year-old physically challenged youth, Exodus Wilson, popularly known as 'Boy Blue' who is involved with generator repair.
How Little Silent Dweh Departed
Police authorities at the Zone Seven Depot in Caldwell are currently investigating circumstances that led to the death of a 5-year-old boy identified as Silent Dweh.
The incident occurred on Tuesday, December 25, 2012 in Coffee Farm, Caldwell Community.
According to police preliminary investigation, the little boy was crossing the road along with other siblings when motorcyclist Abdulaikallon ran dragged him on the sidewalk.
The child was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Eyewitness accounts said the boy was brutally injured by the motorcyclist, who at the time was reportedly playing style with his bike and ran into the boy who was standing on the sidewalk.
According to 6-year-old Rebecca Wesseh, who companied the Dweh on the road to take pictures, they were standing on the sidewalk when the bike hit the little boy and threw him into the air.
The boy reportedly cried: “my head, my head,” as Rebecca immediately ran home to tell her mother that Silent had died.
The eyewitness said after hitting Little Silent, the motorcyclist continued to drive despite the child being dragged by the bike from one junction to the next.
The eyewitness indicated that the news put the Dweh and Wesseh families on their feet as they made their way to the hospital where they met Little Silent lying on bed without being given any treatment on grounds that he was already dead.
Sonewien Gets Garbage As X-Mas Gift
There is a popular adage at this time of the year in Liberia that “My Christmas is on you, and is being amended as “my Christmas is in your blood.”
The saying goes with two fronts: the first covers people who really need presents from neighbors and friends during the season celebrations, while the second points to people who prevent the needy and other friends to ask them for Christmas gifts; though they can afford as opposed to those in category one.
However, residents of the Sonewien Community do not have to ask the Monrovia City Corporation (MCC) for Christmas gifts, because a stockpile of garbage in the Community gives them more than assignment during these celebrations. On the directives of the Corporation, residents and other surroundings dump garbage at the junction of Johnson Street and Rally Time Market, near the Sonewien Community Clinic, for the MCC and its partners to clear it.
“We Tired Living On Hand-To-Mouth”-Salala Market Women Declare
It appears that Liberians, especially women and the young people can no longer wait to adhere to President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf's call for them to exercise patience and wait for the appropriate time where surplus jobs will be created through the attraction of more investors, as they are involved with all sorts of informal business activities just to sustain themselves and their families.
One of such groups of Liberians is the Salala District market women in Bong County, who are venturing in informal business activities commonly known as “Hand-Mouth”.
Speaking on behalf of her colleagues in an exclusive interview with the In Profile Daily recently at the maket ground in Salala, just around the Bureau if Immigration and Natualization checkpoint, Ma-Bee Kesselly, who sells roasted cassava and cold water, said things continue to be tough on them despite the hard work they are involved with for self-empowerment and improvement.
“some of our husbands are degree holders and professional people but there is no job and they are afraid to go in the bush to do other work due to ritualistic activities in the area,” Madam Kesselly, 35 said in a rather unhappy mood.
Prophet Mohammed Missing
-Grieving Parents Cleaving Unto Hope
A three-year old boy Prophet Mohammed has been considered missing after a fire outbreak that consumed twenty two houses and left hundreds of people homeless in the WestPoint community over the weekend. Prophet Mohammed was last seen with his family minutes before they were notified by their tenants that their house was on fire. According to the child's father, Fallah Morris, he has not been able to find nor see his son since the fire took place, leaving him and his wife at a confused state of mind.
