Jigger Digging in Kenya: A Painful Reality and a Growing Movement for Healing
Jigger digging in Kenya refers to the manual removal of jiggers—tiny parasitic fleas (Tunga penetrans) that burrow into human skin, causing painful swelling, itching, and infection. This practice is common in rural communities where jigger infestations are widespread due to poverty, poor sanitation, and lack of access to medical care.
🦟 What Are Jiggers?
Jiggers are sand fleas that thrive in dusty, dry environments. The female flea burrows into the skin—typically on the feet, toes, or hands—where it lays eggs and causes:
- Painful inflammation
- Itching and discomfort
- Open sores and secondary infections
- Difficulty walking or using affected limbs
Without treatment, jiggers can lead to severe complications such as tetanus, gangrene, and permanent disability.
🛠️ What Is Jigger Digging?
Jigger digging is the process of manually extracting the embedded fleas using sharp tools like needles or tweezers. In many cases, this is done by volunteers or caregivers in community outreach programs. The process involves:
- Cleaning the affected area with antiseptic
- Piercing the skin to expose the flea
- Carefully removing the entire parasite and egg sac
- Disinfecting the wound and applying a sterile dressing
Though painful, jigger digging is often the only available treatment in remote areas.
💔 Social and Emotional Impact
Jigger victims—especially children and the elderly—often suffer in silence due to:
- Stigma and ridicule
- School absenteeism
- Social isolation
- Emotional trauma
In some communities, jigger infestation is wrongly associated with witchcraft or curses, making victims hesitant to seek help.
❤️ Community and Medical Response
Organizations like Rise Up Society and Dabaso Tujengane have launched anti-jigger campaigns across Kenya. Their efforts include:
- Providing safe jigger removal and medical care
- Distributing closed shoes to prevent reinfestation
- Educating communities about hygiene and prevention
- Using herbal remedies like neem and coconut oil to treat and repel jiggers
In Murang’a County, Citizen TV Kenya highlighted a family whose life was transformed through treatment and awareness. Once devastated by jiggers, they now thrive thanks to community support.
🛡️ Prevention Strategies
To eliminate jigger infestation, communities need:
- Improved housing with cement floors
- Access to clean water and sanitation
- Regular foot hygiene and inspection
- Control of flea-carrying animals
- Education to dispel myths and encourage early treatment
Neem-based sprays and soaps have shown promising results in schools and households, offering a low-cost, locally sourced solution.
