Bomet intensifies efforts to eradicate jigger infestation

Volunteers attend to a jigger-infested victim in Kisii county. [File, Standard]

Bomet County, in collaboration with the Kenya Red Cross, has intensified its efforts to eradicate jigger infestations within the county.

Joseph Sitonik, the County Executive Committee Member for Health Services, announced that this initiative will target children, youth, men, women, and the elderly from affected households.

Dr Sitonik spoke at Bosto in Konoin Subcounty during a successful  jigger treatment session conducted by the Department of Public Health.

He noted that the treatment is part of an ongoing mass mapping and treatment campaign that began in January 2025, during which 124 cases have been treated with follow-ups conducted at their respective households.

"As part of our continuous efforts to eradicate jiggers by December 2025, the county government, together with the Kenya Red Cross and other partners, is planning a series of sensitization meetings across Konoin Subcounty."

"These meetings aim to help community members improve their sanitation practices and create a conducive and habitable environment for all,” Sitonik stated.

During the exercise, 13 cases from one family were fully treated, and additional support with essential commodities was provided.

This project also offers health education focused on proper sanitation, foot cleaning, jigger removal, wound care, drug administration, deworming, and disinfecting homes with poor sanitation.

“Jiggers represent a serious health issue that can lead to pain, disability, and even death,” Sitonik emphasized.

Poverty and unhygienic living conditions have been significant contributors to the jigger problem. Children as young as three months old are forced to endure the pain caused by this parasite.

“Many people have been suffering in silence, which is why the County government has partnered with the Red Cross and other organizations to eradicate jigger infestations in the county, restoring dignity and hope to those affected,” he added.

The impact of jigger infestations negatively affects the education sector, particularly in rural areas, by hindering children's attendance, participation in outdoor activities, academic performance, and overall retention in school.

In Kenya, it is estimated that around two million people are infested with jiggers, with prevalence in some communities reaching as high as 50 percent. Jiggers significantly diminish the quality of life for victims by reducing their ability to function normally.