Busia Woman Representative Catherine Omanyo has launched a jigger eradication campaign targeting more than 1,000 families in the county.
She said even though the stigma associated with jiggers in schools has gone down, some people continue to suffer in silence.
“Jiggers are a serious health problem that can cause pain, disability and even death. For many years, people have associated jiggers with poverty and witchcraft,” Omanyo said.
She was speaking in Katelenyang village, Teso South constituency.
The legislator urged the ministries of Health and Education to partner with county governments to fumigate schools to curb the spread of the parasite.
In Busia, poverty and unhygienic conditions have been the leading contributors to the jigger menace. Children as young as three months have to bear the pain of the parasite.
Teso South, Teso North and Butula are the most affected.
“Most people have been suffering in silence and that is why Catherine Omanyo Foundation is advocating restoring dignity and hope,” Omanyo said.
“Jigger infestation impacts negatively on the education sector, especially in the rural areas, as it affects the children’s rate of school attendance, performance in outdoor activities, academic performance and general retention.”
In Kenya, an estimated two million people are infested by jiggers, with prevalence in some communities being as high as 50 per cent.
Jiggers affect the victim's quality of life by reducing their ability to function normally.
“One of the interventions is regular fumigation of infested households, on-host treatment of reservoir animals, hygiene promotion, education and disinfection of jigger wounds,” Omanyo said.
