Gatundu residents cry for help as jiggers infestation hits village
Residents of Hakimori village in Gatundu North, Kiambu County are crying for help after a jigger infestation hit the village.
Bearing the brunt are the elderly persons who have been incapacitated from going about the daily economic activities as the fleas have invaded both their hands and legs thereby making them unable to walk or use their hands.
Residents decried that the poor village has known no peace for months now due to the ravaging parasitic insects which have wreaked havoc in over ten families thereby worsening livelihoods.
Jane Ngige, a concerned local said the most affected by the jigger menace are elderly persons from poor families who have been disrupted from their farm activities as they are forced to spend most of the time removing them.
Ngige says most of the elderly persons have lost their nails as a result of the invasion with others having developed inflammation, ulceration among other ailments.
Speaking at the village, Ngige said concerned locals have been trying to eliminate the insects using vehicles oil but the intervention has only been serving as a temporal solution to the menace that has also left most of the affected in discomfort.
Jane Wangari, a widow whose five children died several years ago said she has been left with no one to support her in life as she can no longer be able to go about farming.
The 75-year-old woman regretted that the infestation has occasioned serious psychological torture on her body and called on well wishers to help the village eliminate the insects.
Her sentiments were echoed by Raphael Wanyoro who no longer walks without a walking stick as the jiggers have been increasing day by day inside her legs and hands.
Angered that local leaders have failed to provide them with quality and lasting solutions to the menace, the villagers called for action by the government and well-wishers to eradicate the problem and avert more health complications among residents.