Residents of Mumias West are suffering after jigger’s infested the area.
Several school going kids are unable to go to school due to the menace.
Stakeholders in the health sector are calling on the County government of Kakamega and the National government to intervene.
Over the weekend, an NGO dubbed Arise Afrika Generation was forced to intervene and help the infected.
Led by Directors Boniface Ngashira and Anderson Musungu , the NGO held a free medical camp at Bumia primary school in Etenje ward to offer treatment .
Speaking to Hot News, the residents said jiggers continue infest more people.
Medical experts told Hot News that jigger infestation has no known effective curative procedures and that the best way to deal with the jigger menace is prevention.
Rising cases can be traced at Khungwani, Emaungu, Enyapeta, Iyabo, lukongo and Ematemo villages.
Boniface Ngashira said the parasite that causes jiggers affects even the mental health of the victims.
“We are appealing to the County Government of Kakamega to train volunteers to empower health workers, supply all primary, secondary schools, colleges, and churches with antiseptics and drugs like potassium permanganate or hydrogen peroxide. This will speed up the treatment of affected individuals.” Ngashira said.
He called on leaders from the region to support jigger eradication initiatives to help children go back to school and study.
Historically, jiggers were first introduced in Central Kenya during the colonial period by the colonialist as a way of fighting and subduing Africans.