By Okong’o Oduya
High rate of jigger infestation has been recorded in Busia County in Kenya with a prevalence of 50 per cent. This is according to Ahadi Kenya CEO Stanley Kamau, anti jigger campaign activist.
Speaking at Kamolo primary school in Teso North in Busia County during the distribution of jigger medicine and sanitary facilities such as shoes to pupils from the region, Kamau noted that kakamega, Homabay and vihiga counties also reported high cases of jigger infestation after Busia .
“It is sad to say this but it is the truth Busia County is leading in the menace followed by Kakamega, Homabay and Vihiga counties across the nation,” noted Dr Kamau.
According to him the statistics show that jigger infestation is mostly reported in areas with high poverty rate. He used the forum to challenge both national and county governments to play a major role in addressing poverty by coming up with projects that will help raise the living standards of people.
Such sentiments were echoed by Jigger eradication ambassador Cecilia Mwangi. According to her women need to be empowered economically to enable them take care of their families.
“We need to empower our women and families to be self-reliant and economically to be able to take care of their families. Failure to address raging poverty, we will never eradicate jiggers in this country,” she noted.
Kamau further noted that political leaders are wasting time politicking around instead of addressing issues affecting the people they claim to lead. He further noted that the current situation in the country where political leaders are heard spreading ethnicity may split this nation apart.
“These utterances we hear from politicians will bring down this country. I come from Murang’a County but I serve all Kenyans regardless of their tribe, race, religion or social background. No one applied to be born from certain region. Victimizing people from areas they come from is not acceptable,” He advised.
He wanted cabinet secretary of education Fred Matiang’i to clarify the new school regulations in the sector which will affect primary schools in rural settings adding that if that will be the case it may paralyze their program in third term.
“Jigger eradication is an activity we engage ourselves the whole year. We want to know whether we will be allowed to treat children affected in third term or not. Let him come out clear on that,” he paused.
Kamau further said that cases of rape to jigger infested people and people living with disability have increased in Teso region calling upon security agencies to cub the cases.
“Due to their inability to move and vulnerability, these people have become easier targets for sex pests. I don’t see the reason why the right thinking member in the society will defile a sick person. Let these kind of people be arrested and face the law,” explained Mr Kamau.
On the other side Busia County First Lady Judy Ojaamong challenged parents across the county to exercise high standard of hygiene as a way reducing infestation.
“This process should not be left to Ahadi Kenya only because as parents we also have a role to play in protecting our families by keeping environment we live in as clean as possible,” she said.
