House visits won't curb jigger menace- lobby

 

Mama Ngina Kenyatta, her granddaughter Ngina and Ahadi Trust ambassador Cecilia Mwangi attend to 5 year old Esther Wanjiku at the Gatundu stadium during a shoe distribution to prevent jigger infestation in Gatundu constituency on August 26, 2013. Photo/FILE  NATION MEDIA GROUP

In Summary

• Kenya has over 10 million citizens affected by jigger menace.
• Ahadi CEO Stanley Kamau said out of this, 25 per cent are people with disability both mentally and physically.

By JAMES NGUNJIRI

The Nyeri County government has been urged to conduct a comprehensive survey on jigger infestation to curb the menace.

According to Ahadi Kenya Trust, an anti-jigger lobby group, the county is one of the top 10 that is worst affected.

Kenya has over 10 million citizens affected by jigger menace.

Ahadi CEO Stanley Kamau said out of this, 25 per cent are people with disability both mentally and physically.

He added that 30 per cent of those with jiggers don’t have proper sanitation.

“They don’t have toilets and this is very sad since 50 years down the line there are some people who don’t have proper sanitation.

“Let us not just say we are going to eradicate jiggers without a proper survey,” he said.

MANY FAMILIES

Mr Kamau said every county should conduct a comprehensive survey to “know how many families or people are jigger infested so that once we carry out a comprehensive report we can be able to eradicate this menace.”

“Otherwise, if we don’t do this we are going to be jumping from house to house, and we will never do any comprehensive work,” he added.

He was speaking at Karaba location in Mukurwe-ini constituency, Nyeri County at the weekend.

Meanwhile, Governor Nderitu Gachagua has assured residents of his intent to deliberate on ways to change the face of the county, renown for its high poverty levels.

He said the county’s poverty index stands at 38 per cent and this will only come down if they improve the agriculture sector which is the main economic backbone on the county.