Jigger infestations have significantly declined in Napak district following extensive community sensitization efforts. Between 2017 and 2022, jigger cases were widespread in Ngoleriet, Kangole, Lopei, and Lotome sub-counties, with Matany Hospital registering over 10 patients daily, most of them pregnant women seeking antenatal care.
The situation worsened during the COVID-19 lockdown when people remained at home, unknowingly living with the parasites. Many patients visiting health facilities for other illnesses were found to be infected with jiggers.
Jiggers, also known as Tunga penetrans, are parasitic sand fleas that burrow into the skin, typically in the feet, causing intense itching, pain, swelling, and secondary infections. The condition primarily affects people in poor living conditions with inadequate sanitation and hygiene.
The reduction in cases is attributed to community outreach programs led by Matany Hospital and other partners, which educated residents on personal hygiene and proper healthcare practices.
Deusdedit Kateregga, the medical superintendent at St. Kizito Matany Hospital, noted a drastic drop in infections, with the hospital now recording only about two cases per week. “Previously, we had many jigger patients, especially the elderly and those with limited access to healthcare. Although most did not seek treatment specifically for jiggers, health workers identified infections while treating them for other ailments,” Kateregga explained.
He added that patients often reported symptoms of malaria, only for health workers to discover jigger infestations on their feet, armpits, ears, and other body parts. The hospital has since provided treatment using disinfectants and educated affected individuals on proper hygiene practices to prevent reinfection.
Kateregga emphasized that low-income households still struggle with jigger infestations, particularly in Ngoleriet sub-county. He urged community members to avoid sharing living spaces with livestock, as the fleas that cause jiggers breed in dusty environments, particularly in traditional mud houses with dirt floors.
To reduce infestations, he advised residents to sprinkle water on their floors or smear them with cow dung to limit dust, which serves as a breeding ground for fleas.
Increase in Kala-Azar Cases in Moroto
Meanwhile, Moroto Regional Referral Hospital has reported a rise in cases of leishmaniasis, also known as kala-azar, with most patients being referred from Amudat district.
Leishmaniasis is a life-threatening disease caused by protozoan parasites transmitted through the bite of infected female sandflies. The parasite invades vital organs such as the liver, spleen, and bone marrow, and, if left untreated, the disease is almost always fatal. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), symptoms include fever, weight loss, fatigue, anemia, and severe swelling of the liver and spleen.
Christopher Ocheng, an internal medicine physician at Moroto Regional Referral Hospital, confirmed the increase in cases from South Karamoja, particularly Amudat district. “We have a dedicated program handling kala-azar as one of the Neglected Tropical Diseases. Many patients require admission due to severe complications that need close monitoring,” Ocheng stated.
However, he noted that official statistics are maintained by Amudat Hospital, where most patients were initially diagnosed and referred for further treatment.