The Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation in Rarieda District -Siaya County, has raised concern over the escalating cases of jigger menace in the region.
According to Rarieda Public Health Officer, Isaac Cheserek, jigger infestation cases have been reported majorly among school going children in the 43 primary and secondary schools in the district.
Speaking at the District headquarters in Madiany, Cheserek attributed this menace to low hygiene standards in homes, ignorance and negligence, adding that the climatic conditions in the area is not favorable for the breeding of jiggers unlike in Nyeri and Murang’a counties.
He regretted that most of the parents whose children have been affected tend to perceive jigger attacks as a curse in the community, thus do not bother to take their children for medication.
Cheserek dismissed this perception, instead urging parents to seek medical advice from health facilities in order to combat further cases of jiggers outbreak in the region.
Cheserek further noted that his office in collaboration with the community health workers have launched a door to door campaign in a bid to fully eradicate the spread of the jigger infestation.
The Public Health Officer has now challenged parents and school heads to always ensure that children are paraded for daily body check-ups to help identify the infected group and to enhance general hygienic standards.
Disclaimer: All articles and letters published on MyNews24 have been independently written by members of News24's community. The views of users published on News24 are therefore their own and do not necessarily represent the views of News24. News24 editors also reserve the right to edit or delete any and all comments received.