It has been four weeks since Emwatsi village in Vihiga County celebrated the birth of little Matthew Olweny. However, their joy has since faded away because of the unending cries of the helpless new-born. He is the latest villager to join the list of those infested by the deadly jigger parasite.
Even more worrying, is the fact that both of his parents – Mr. and Mrs. Hosea Olecha – who are smallholder farmers, are also victims of this stubborn flea that is commonly known as ‘Nyende’ in the local dialect.
According to Ahadi trust, a Kenyan-based Non-governmental organization spearheading the jigger eradication campaign, jiggers (Tunga penetrans) is a small parasitic flea that burrows in the skin and intermittently feeds on their warm-blooded hosts such as humans and domestic animals including: cattle, sheep, pigs, chickens, dogs, mice and wild animals.
“Jigger infested farmers hardly participate in agricultural activities. This has significantly contributed to the rising levels food shortage and poverty in our village” Joyce Amaheno, the area assistant chief disclosed.
It is this disturbing reality that captured the attention of ICRAF and initiated the corporate social responsibility (CSR) exercise conducted on 30 August 2014.
When we arrive at the Emwatsi primary school gate, two things standout. In the background is the chirping of the birds and the cool breeze sweeping underneath the canopy of Eucalyptus saligna (Blue gum) and Grevillea robusta (Silky Oak) trees. The scenario would easily deceive anyone into thinking all is well.
Our worst fears are confirmed once we come into contact with villagers’ whose toes or fingers display the harsh reality of jigger infestation. Their toes are either ruptured, blistered or swollen and revealing evidence of the embedded parasite. The condition has forced many of them- including children- to walk in a slanted gait Victims fear to be identified with jiggers
Mr. Walter Adongo, a field technician at ICRAF has been working closely with this community. He reveals that “Many victims shy away from seeking medical attention because of a local myth that associates jigger infestation with a curse and hence they treat the condition as incurable”.
He further points out that male folks are the worst affected because they fear of being ostracized by the society. This has further worsened the situation for if left untreated, over time it may cause serious medical complications like loss of mobility and in extreme cases, death.
ICRAF’S intervention
Through the asset-based community-driven development approach (ABCD) which rides on the bottom-up concept (where farmers are the key decision makers in any intervention), ICRAF working with local stakeholders will invest in the communities’ strengths, capacities and assets to combat the parasite. This approach aims at addressing the underlying needs of the farmer while empowering them to adopt agricultural practices that can scale-up food production and income generation ventures.
Dr. Jonathan Muriuki, ICRAF Kenya country representative explains that although the organization’s mandate is not health-oriented, the anti-jigger campaign is a platform that brings together health-related institutions, political and government officials to help address the plight of the farmer.
“The farmer is an indispensable partner in the realization of ICRAF’s mandate. We are keen to partner with other stakeholders to develop a holistic approach that will help eliminate jiggers while at the same time transforming the farmer’s livelihood”, Dr. Muriuki says.
Role of Agroforestry
Agroforestry was identified as one of the viable interventions that can transform the farmers’ livelihoods from subsistence farming to commercial hence delivering them from poverty to a state of economic independence.
Hon. Halima Abdi, the County Executive in charge of agriculture in Vihiga County stated that the county government is committed to creating partnerships that will not only help to eradicate the jigger menace but also boost food production in the area.
“Farmers should be encouraged to grow crop-friendly trees in their farms considering the gains registered through this agricultural system. Agroforestry can improve farm productivity and also provide essential tree products that can significantly benefit the farmer”, she said.
She further blames the poor hygiene standards for the rising numbers of jigger infestation cases and challenges the locals to observe good hygiene.
Better days ahead
The ICRAF delegation consisting of Kenya and Uganda country offices presented a donation of medicinal tree seedlings and treatment solutions to the different partners engaged in a jigger treatment exercise before planting medicinal trees e.g. Warbugia ugandensis in the school compound. The journey towards freedom from jigger, poverty and hunger for the Emwatsi community has just begun.
