Sources from Kenya claim the government intends to criminalise Jigger Infestation , however, the countrys Ministry of Health has condemned such plans by any county government.
Chief Public Health Officer, Dr Kepha Ombacho also said the ministry would carry out a base line survey in the country to determine the cause of jiggers in areas previously not affected.
He said poverty was the major cause of jigger infestation, but added personal hygiene was a sure way of fighting the vermin.
Murang’a County Deputy Governor Gakure Monyo came under attack after he said dire actions would be taken against those found with jiggers once a law is in place.
While disputing that jiggers were as a result of a curse or poverty in the county, Mr Monyo said the major cause of the vermin was lack of sanitation.
“We will ensure that laws against jiggers are put in place and passed in the County Assembly soon and anybody found with jiggers will be forced to remove them,” he said.
Dr Ombacho said currently, about 12,000 people had been ravaged by the vermin in the country.
Over 200 school children were given shoes during an anti-jigger campaign .
“We are in the process of conducting the second scientific household survey to document the new and alarming transmission to areas not previously considered jigger endemic areas like Busia and Nyanza counties,” said Dr Ombacho.
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