Kimondo is one of the community units within Endebess Sub County where there are some outreach sites for preventive services. These are regularly visited by Rotary Doctors Sweden. During household visits during the covid programme, it was realized that there was an increase in the number of jigger cases among members of this community. A jigger is a small parasitic flea that burrows into the skin of a warm-blooded host before laying eggs. They generally attack feet or hands. At first, the jigger appears as a small black dot on the skin. As the female's abdomen fills with blood and eggs, a bump forms underneath the skin, which is often painful and itchy and makes walking incredibly difficult.
Community members feel they have received a better understanding of what jigger infestation is, its causes and ways of eradication. Unlike before when they had a lot of misconceptions and myths about jiggers, they now understand that they have a direct responsibility in eradicating jiggers by changing their behavior especially on regular house disinfection, sanitation and general hygiene.
LUND, 221 04
Sweden