Being inspired by the success of our previous project (Digging a well to provide reliable source of water for the Sokoni community), we took on another project. Together with DHL and Pamoja Africa, we were able to perform another “Making a Difference Project” where we were set out to eliminate and disinfect those infected with Jiggers the Sokoni Community, located in Roka, Kilifi, Kenya.
The DHL Mombasa station manager Fatma Abubakar who we had worked with previously contacted us and told us that the DHL Mombasa branch would be more than happy to assist us in our next project that involved disinfecting the people of the Sokoni Community of jiggers.
Jiggers were a major problem for the people of Roka; jiggers are these insects that enter one’s skin causing immense discomfort and pain. Jiggers are a major problem in many rural areas in Mombasa. Those infected are usually kids and the infection of jiggers causes them not to attend school as explained to us by the Sokoni Primary School’s headmistress.
 |
| Briefing the people prior to the jigger eradication event |
As part of their “Volunteer and Community Service Week”, DHL Mombasa decided to assist us with our project. After hearing of such an activity so did Pamoja Africa. So on that Saturday we had DHL and Pamoja Africa helping us with our project.
DHL had agreed to fund and give us volunteers for the project. The activity was a pretty messy one and we was glad that we had a medical expert as well as other volunteers from the Sokoni Community. It was a massive project and we were able to disinfect more than 500 people. This includes every student at the Sokoni Primary School who was infected by jiggers, all the kids at the community as well as any other person who had jiggers.
 |
| Main working area |
There were many problems that we faced on that day. The first one was working in a small area. There were so many people and the school area is relatively small, therefore, it was a tight space with many people working. Secondly, most of the kids were scared or very young. Therefore, most of them either resisted or were reluctant to get treated or cried throughout the entire process. This made it very hard as you had to overcome feeling sorry for them and forcefully treat them. However, after being treated the kids realized that it didn’t really hurt and were quite grateful to receive lollipops for their courage and cooperation. There was also a point where we ran out of gloves. Therefore, a member of the DHL team had to drive off and look for an open pharmacy and purchase some more. Although this slowed down the process we were able to entertain the remaining people as we patiently waited for the gloves.
 |
| Preparing the Iodine disinfectant |
Regardless of the setbacks we encountered. The activity was very successful. From the moment we were done we had disinfected everyone in the community and other communities who had jiggers and we also sprayed Iodine disinfectant around the school area to ensure that no more jiggers would bother the students anymore. At the end of it all, we were able to interact with different people from the Sokoni community, Pamoja Africa and DHL as well as learn how to work under tight conditions and treat someone infected with jiggers.
We can gladly say “We Made A Difference” by disinfecting everyone in the Sokoni community and other communities who had jiggers and ensuring that jiggers will not be a problem in the near future. We would like to urge you to support our initiatives, its time we give back to our communities.
Check out more images taken during the course of the project here:
About author
Curabitur at est vel odio aliquam fermentum in vel tortor. Aliquam eget laoreet metus. Quisque auctor dolor fermentum nisi imperdiet vel placerat purus convallis.
