Over 1 000 children infested with jiggers in Kilifi county have been treated for free since January this year.
The children, most of whom are school going, were from Kilifi, Malindi, Kaloleni and Magarini districts among other areas.
According to Divine Love Jigger Organization coordinator Japhet Khamisi, they have embarked on the exercise to eradicate the jigger menace that has forced most children to stay at home after being infested.
"We started treating them in January and you can see how the number is big. Children are the ones who are the most infected and sometimes they are infected to an extend of not being able to walk," he added.
He said most of the children infested by the parasite are under 15 years of age adding that their aim was to expand the program to the larger coastal region.
Khamisi said they have managed to treat children in the area through the assistance of the public health ministry who supplies them with drugs.
He said plans are underway for the organisation to start public awareness on the issue of jiggers and how they can be avoided and quickly treated if infested.
The officer appealed to the government to intervene and help them by providing funds.
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