Villagers from Riakemuma village, Giasaiga Sub-location in Sameta Sub-county have been challenged to observe hygiene at household levels to avert bedbugs’ infestation.
Community health workers from the area have advised local community members to embrace both personal and public hygiene, especially in their bedrooms where bedbugs naturally target.
Speaking to this writer at Boigesa village during a public health and sanitation awareness activity, Beatrice Ombogo, one of the community health workers in the area challenged local community members to take hygiene in their bedrooms seriously to avoid creating a conducive breeding ground for the bedbugs.
Ombogo clarified that bedbugs are universal pests which attack both human beings and domestic animals through sucking of blood.
"The most common place to find bedbugs is in the beds as their name suggests. They are particularly found on wooden beds joints which provide them with conducive breeding hideouts if such places are not kept clean always," said Ombogo.
She said bedbugs are not linked to any disease transmission but their presence makes one's life unbearable and embarrassing as they bite and hide in the seams of clothing, causing social discomfort to the host.
Ombogo adviced the local community to control the spread of the pests through regular use of protective polythene covers for their mattresses.
"It is important that local community members avoid placing excess and untidy rugs under their beddings and mattresses which naturally provide hideouts for the bedbugs," advised Ombogo.