Medical Camp in Gatundu -14th February 2009
(Valentines Day Celebrations)

More than eighty (80) children were treated of jiggers and with 200 others fed on Valentines Day. The exercise took place at ACK Gatundu Town and was attended by among others; World Youth Alliance volunteers, Kenya High school students, Kenyatta University students, Public Health officials and Ahadi Kenya. Food and clothing were distributed to the needy. The area Pastor pleaded with the local community to come out and support the anti-jigger campaign saying that most are suffering due to self denial. Ahadi Kenya has a jigger Center in Gatundu Town.

A child’s deformed leg in Gatundu		Volunteers attending to jigger victims

Rescue mission in Kandara - 22nd January 2009
(20 admitted in hospital)

More than twenty (20) jigger victims from Kandara Constituency are admitted at Maragwa District hospital.The victims severely attacked were found bed ridden and most of them even disabled.Ahadi Kenya with the support of Red cross volunteers carried the victims to hospital where they were admitted. The children and adults could hardly walk and had to be put on wheelchairs. Their whole bodies are eaten up by jiggers. Hundreds of people in this area live under the same conditions and a campaign has been launched in the area. Ahadi is calling on well wishers to come and support this initiative.

Jigger victims being carried to hospital

Victim’s jigger infested  feet		A jigger infested child been examined by Ahadi team

Gitugi Primary School - 10th January 2009
(100 children completely healed)
Over 100 children from Gitugi Primary School in Mathioya, Murang’a are back to school after been treated of jiggers. This was revealed by the school headmaster during a jigger medical camp sponsored by Kenya Airways. More than 200 children from the neighboring villages were treated during the camp.

At the same time the minister for public Health and Sanitation Hon. Beth Mugo confirmed that 10 million Kenyans are at the risk of jigger infestation in Kenya

Kenya Airways staff attending to jigger infested children		Kenya Airways volunteers with the children

 

Medical Camp at Lewa Downs Pri. Sch-6th December 2008
(300 chidren infested)

More than three hundred children at Lewa Downs Primary School in Samburu are infested with jiggers. During the Safaricom sponsored jigger medical camp a total of more than 400 children were washed and treated. The camp was attended by among others Safaricom members of staff, Head teacher and other teachers from the school, local leaders, community members, Ahadi Kenya staff and volunteers. A good number of those infested drop out of school every year. A visit to their homes shows that they live under very poor hygiene condition. Poverty is also evident in the villages neighbouring the school. Many people both children and adults are bed ridden and had to be attended to in their respective homes. Ahadi Kenya is now planning to open a center to help those affected.

Jigger infested people attending the Safaricom sponsored camp		Safaricom staff attending to the children
One of the children’s hand infested with jiggers		A victim unable to move with his feet badly infested

Visit to Kogelo - 30th November 2008
(Barrack Obama ancestral home)

Residents of Kogelo village, Siaya District are now appealing to the Government to intervene and help in the eradication of jiggers in the area. Majority of those infested are children and men. They are accusing the government of giving priority to the infrastructure instead of looking into the issue of health and poverty in the area.

They are calling on the Prime Minister Hon. Raila Odinga and The US president elect Barrack Obama who they refer as `their own` to come to their rescue on this menace.

Many of those affected could not join the rest of the Nation and the world as a whole in celebrating their son’s victory as they are held hostage in their homes under the mercy of jiggers. They are unable to walk or fed for themselves.

Ahadi Kenya will soon setting up a jigger Help Center in the area to assist those affected.

The anti-jigger campaign ambassador Cecilia Mwangi appealed to all Kenyans for support especially now that Kenya is at the limelight in particular Kogelo village.

Below are some of the pictures of those infested:

 

Beekeeping project launch-15th Nov 2008
(Recovered jigger victims to benefit)

A beekeeping project to rehabilitate and reconstruct the lives of those previously under the mercy of jiggers was launched. Initially, 16 families will benefit from the pilot project funded by Citi foundation. Each family was given ten (10) bee hives to start with. A total of 160 hives were distributed at the function that was attended by among others the area MP Hon. Clement Muchiri. Citi foundation representative assured of continuous support of the project as long as the community manages the proceeds in a proper manner. They urged more corporate bodies to join and support initiatives meant to empower the society. More than 500 people in Murang’a have already healed and ready to live a normal life.

Each beehive will produce a total of 20kg of honey after a period of four (4) months and thereafter every two (2) months. A kilo of honey will be sold at a minimum of Ksh.120. Every farmer will be earning a total of Ksh. 24,000 after every two months.

Recovered victims carrying away the hives		Ahadi team flanked by the area MP presenting the hives

Visit to Chui Pri. School -25th October 2008
(Clean up and fumigation)

The school clean up campaign was taken to Chui Primary School in Mathioya constituency, Murang’a District. More than 50 children from the school and the neighboring community were washed and treated for jiggers. Volunteers fumigated the entire school to kill fleas that cause jiggers. The fumigation process will continue to the homesteads of those infested. More than 13 schools will benefit from the fumigation campaign.

Children attending cleanup exercise		Volunteers in fumigation gear

Malindi visit- 11th October 2008
(40,000 children infested)

More than 40,000 children are jigger infested in Malindi District, Coast Province. Some schools have as many as 800 students affected. Baraka Katana, Standard one boy aged 8 in Malindi, Msabaha village has been out of school(Sun-Rise Orphanage Primary School) for the better part of this term after the headmaster chased him away for been jigger infested. Ahadi Kenya visited the area at the invitation of the community leaders who blamed the area Member of Parliament for neglect and not been accessible. The old are not spared either. We visited over ten homesteads distributing medication and foodstuffs. More than 2000 people benefited during the visit. The area residents acknowledged the problem and urged the Government to come to their rescue. This marks the highest number of people infested in one particular area Ahadi Kenya has come across since the start of the campaign.

Infected heels

Infected feet

Coast Province Anti-jigger Campaign launch - 10th October 2008
(Coastal MPs blamed)

The anti-jigger campaign was officially launched at the coast province by the assistant minister for Medical Services Hon. Danson Mungatana. So far Coast Province is second in the number of those infested with jiggers in the country led by Central Kenya. Some of the Districts badly affected include; Kwale, Kilifi, Malindi, Tana River and Lamu. Poverty and poor sanitation is evidence in the area. Some Coastal Members of Parliament have denied the existence of jiggers in the area for fear of embarrassment. During the launch more than 400 people from Ngao village in Garsen constituency were treated of jiggers. Ahadi Kenya committed to supply medication and other sanitation materials to the community leaders for sustainability of the project A programme to visit all the districts is in progress.

Minister consoling a jigger victim
Toes completely eaten by jiggers				Ahadi team and minister treating the victims

Infected foot		Infected hand

Gatundu Center opening-4th October 2008
(Many children out of school)

A center to cater for the over 100 homesteads and 300 jigger victims was opened at Gatundu shopping Center next to Law courts. The Center will be manned by a social worker from Ahadi Kenya as well as the community members. Treatment and referral to hospitals for serious cases, Training and education on hygiene, Fumigation and rehabilitation will be some of the activities at the center. Medication and foodstuff were distributed to the more than 200 jigger victims who attended the opening. Area residents complained of high school drop out due to jigger infestation. The center will serve the whole of Gatundu District.

A child’s infected hands		The Centre at Gatundu