Addressing the Root Causes of Parasitic Infestation to Build Healthy Communities
In 2019, we continued our work in schools in Lwanda South Ward, with support from Lions Club Worms from Germany. Our aim was to reduce the prevalence of jiggers, a parasitic infestation that had been plaguing many children in the region.
As part of our approach to jiggers treatment, we made follow-ups at some of the homes of the most afflicted children. We noticed that some of these children got reinfected during the school holidays when they spent all their time at home. We, therefore, followed a select group back to their homes to see the jigger's situation.
At one home in Ebwiranyi village, we participated not only in treating the members of the households but also in working together with the family to improve hygiene and nutrition by cleaning up, repairing the houses, and planting vegetables in the home. Our volunteers assessed the home, provided jigger treatment, conducted a clean-up, and established a vegetable garden.
Although the house was structurally safe, the hygiene and nutritional situation was indeed dire. We taught the young girls how to keep their house and utensils clean, repaired their floor, and showed them how to maintain it.
We built them a simple outdoor drying rack and taught them how not to keep their utensils on the ground after washing them. We then assigned a Cohesu volunteer to make home follow-ups for jigger treatment by re-educating the girls on how to treat their jiggered feet and those of their great-grandmother on a daily basis.
Our efforts have helped to address the root causes of jiggers infestation and build healthy communities. We are grateful to Lions Club, Worms, for their support in our efforts and look forward to continuing to work towards our goal of improving the lives of the most vulnerable members of our communities.
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