A section of residents of Nyalenya village, Muhoroni Sub County in Kisumu County are crying out for help due to jigger infestation.
Some of the residents claimed that they were unable to walk as their toes and fingers are massively swollen and disfigured because of the jigger menace.
“I used to be a strong and energetic woman who would do tasks unassisted. But this has changed in the last two years. I am just like a baby,” Peninah Achieng told The Nation.
According to Achieng, the menace has forced her to crawl around her one-roomed house as she goes around doing the daily chores.
She is now appealing to well wishers to assist her come out of her current woes caused by jigger infestation.
According to Ahadi Trust, an organization that fights against jigger infestation in the country, the major cause of the deadly disease is poor hygiene conditions.
In most cases, jigger infestation causes high rate of school dropout, poor performance, inability to walk easily due to pain in the affected areas, inability to carry out normal day to day activities like working or playing, poverty, disability and death among others.
The fleas attack toes, hands, knees and elbows among other body parts.
One can prevent jigger attack by observing cleanliness. In already infested areas, one is advised to check his/her feet daily for freshly burrowing jiggers.