Bonthe: The Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, the Ministry of Health, and the Bonthe District Council jointly organized a two-day Water Safety Plan (WSP) workshop, which took place on February 13-14, 2026, uniting government ministries, health experts, and local authorities under one strategic vision on the Theme: 'Strengthening Safe Drinking Water through the Implementation of the Water Safety Plan (WSP) in Bonthe District.' According to Sierra Leone News Agency, district officials, public health experts, engineers, school authorities, and partner organizations gathered to map strategies ensuring water safety from source to consumption. Principal Public Health Superintendent Albert Dove delivered opening remarks on behalf of the District Medical Officer. He emphasized that safe drinking water remains fundamental to public health, noting that unsafe water fuels waterborne diseases and related health burdens. Collective action to protect water sources and enforce quality control remains essential. D ove stated, 'Clean, safe water maintains good health. No clean water means health issues,' urging participants to engage seriously and contribute meaningfully to the district's Water Safety Plan. Deputy Chairman Jonathan S. Tucker highlighted Bonthe's unique geographic and financial barriers to WASH program implementation, asserting that water constitutes life itself. He noted that Kwame Baikrim chiefdom and other areas face severe deprivation, with dozens of villages lacking functional, reliable water sources. Tucker appealed directly to the central government and development partners, emphasizing that increased funding allocations remain critical. He pointed out that high transportation and operational costs hinder remote community access, declaring, 'Full support readiness exists. Additional funding ensures even the most remote villages have access to safe, clean drinking water.' Principal Public Health Superintendent David Qee presented stark statistics, revealing that the 2022 national survey shows Bo nthe District achieving only 31 percent basic water supply service coverage. He noted that Sierra Leone's WASH sector ranks among the most underfunded and fragmented nationally. Qee assured participants that ministry prioritization targets deprived districts like Bonthe, emphasizing the importance of knowledge dissemination from this workshop to community levels. Assistant Director Patrick Ngaojia detailed the Water Safety Plan framework, a risk management approach ensuring water safety from the catchment to the consumption point. He explained the core components, including hazard identification, risk assessment, mitigation measures, and community-level operation and maintenance systems. Ngaojia stressed the primary objectives of public health protection, waterborne disease prevention, and water service reliability improvement, with a strong emphasis on documentation, record-keeping, and regular monitoring. Workshop Day Two featured practical field assessments, with two teams deployed. One team evaluated Ma ttru UBC Hospital water systems, while another team assessed Centennial Secondary School in Mattru Town, examining supply systems and maintenance procedures. School-level discussions addressed reservoir-cleaning mechanisms, pump capacity, electricity usage, and the importance of maintenance records. Officials recommended systematic documentation of repairs, equipment specifications, and costs, guided by accountability and value-for-money principles. Bonthe District Council, ministry officials, and partners renewed their commitment to scaling the Water Safety Plan across chiefdoms, communities, and schools. Participants affirmed effective collaboration, increased funding, and robust monitoring systems as essential for achieving safe drinking water coverage district-wide. Stakeholder cooperation pledges signal significant progress toward improved water safety and public health outcomes in Bonthe District.