We are continuing our partnership with Sole Hope for the third time, taking their outstanding initiatives and extending them throughout Uganda. This project focuses on identifying hot-spots for jigger infestations and running monthly prevention education classes for six months.  

Through their Zero Jigger program our partner conducts clinics throughout rural villages in Uganda, removing thousands of jiggers in a single day. Jiggers are small parasitic insects that burrow into the hands and feet of individuals before laying eggs. They cause pain, isolation, and even loss of toes among thousands of people in Uganda. They prevent children from going to school, mothers from fetching clean water and fathers from working.

Knowledge is power, and Sole Hope’s monthly education classes are aimed at equipping individuals with the correct practical information on how to prevent jigger infections. In this partnership, we will support Sole Hope with:

a) Identifying and sensitizing communities (especially hot-spots for jigger infestations like cinema halls and bars) on general health education and jigger prevention messages once a month.

b) Conducting 30 education sessions within the funding period (1 per month in each of the five target districts) to empower jigger-infested households and individuals to break socio-cultural barriers that discriminate against them. Each session will be attended by approximately 200 people, targeting a total of 6,000 people for the year. 15 sessions will be conducted in the community and 15 in schools.

c) Building capacity of government service providers to manage jiggers in public health facilities, and

d) Conducting 30 jigger removal clinics within the funding period (1 per month in each of the five target districts) to treat already infested individuals. Each clinic will target 60 patients, a total of 1,800 patients for the year.

The work will be conducted in communities across five districts: Sironko, Luuka, Namisindwa, Manafwa, and Bududa. Let’s help Sole Hope reach their goal of a “Zero Jigger” Uganda. Prevention is the best solution to the harms that jiggers cause. Please support this incredible, trustworthy work by sponsoring Project 41 - Zero Jiggers - and provide the education and the clinics to give people freedom from jiggers.

Project Scope

Country:  Uganda

# Served: 8,000 People

Need: $25,000

Free people from Jiggers…

$10 Provides Freedom for 4 People

$20 Provides Freedom for 8 People

$50 Provides Freedom for 20 People

$500 Provides Freedom for 200 People

MAY & JUNE UPDATE

Social workers held individual counseling sessions with 29 patients to explore their past and present struggles & got support. In addition, 4 group sessions were held to enhance socialization through peer mentoring. During these sessions, the social workers highlighted some factors that increase the risk of jigger infections, such as unhygienic living conditions, child and elder neglect, substance abuse, and mental illness.

Some patients didn’t know how to treat their jigger infections & tried using pesticides, which worsened their symptoms. The sessions educated patients on proper jigger removal and prevention.

The education sessions are impacting jigger reinfestation rates dropping from 43% in April to 28% in May! Former patients are using skills learned in these sessions to remove jiggers and are also practicing better hygiene, therefore, reducing their risk of jigger reinfestation.

APRIL UPDATE

We are thrilled to announce that we conducted the first clinic in Sironko! This community clinic has reached 98 patients so far, of which 91 were treated onsite, with seven being referred to the Hope Center to treat severe jigger infestations. 

Our partner also conducted two radio talk shows on Open Gate and Elgon FM with support from the Resident District Commissioner (RDC), District Health Educator (DHE), and District Health Officer (DHO). 

The radio station reaches 17 districts with an audience of 9 million people. During the interview, a team member of Sole Hope talked about their work. Listeners had the opportunity to call in for any questions or comments, and they received 23 calls from Bugisu region residents!

MARCH UPDATE

Twelve thousand jiggers removed. 

Sole Hope had a busy February, conducting screenings and pick-ups in 3 districts* in the Bugishu region. Those found with severe jigger infestations were treated as inpatients at the Hope Center and provided with 24-hour care and jigger-prevention education. Almost 8,000 jiggers were removed from these patients. 

In addition, community clinics were conducted in Buikwe, Luuka, Jinja, Bududa, Namisindwa, and Manafwa. 453 patients were treated, and 4,000 jiggers were removed. 

As part of the community jigger prevention program, our partner's shoe workshop produced 1,459 pairs of denim shoes which were given to patients and other at-risk individuals to keep their feet clean and safe. Phenomenal efforts from the whole team!

*Districts: Namisindwa, Manafwa, Bududa. 

 SUCCESS STORY: 

15-year-old Kasango lives with his aunt and his four cousins in Bujagali Village. He lived in a jigger-infested environment and had many infections. Thankfully, Kasango was able to be treated at an outreach clinic, removing 72 jiggers from his feet. He also received a care kit, two pairs of denim shoes, and a jigger education pack on prevention. We are so happy to hear that Kasango remains jigger-free after one month of his treatment. He's no longer in pain and very happy to be back at school, working towards his dreams of becoming a mechanic.

*Face has been hidden and name changed for privacy reasons.

February Update

Can you imagine that something so tiny, slightly bigger than a pinhead, could cause you so much pain that you wouldn’t be able to walk? This is the reality for thousands in underserved Ugandan communities. Jiggers are small parasitic fleas found in soil that burrow into people’s feet and lay eggs. They cause debilitating pain &, if left untreated, can disable people permanently.

But they are easily prevented by wearing protective shoes & using correct hygiene. A gift of $20 provides freedom from jiggers for 8 people. They receive jigger treatment, follow-up education, and shoes.