Health/Wellness Programs
Advocate train and Support:
- Jigger eradication campaign
- School health appraisals
- Community health awareness camps
- SRHR programs
- The anti-jigger resource center
- Sanitary towels program
Youth and Women Empowerment Programs
Advocate, Train and support:
- Skills acquisition
- Small business loans
- Agribusiness
Emergency Feeding, clothing programs
What Motivates Us
Service to Humanity brings an unparalleled sense of fulfillment; a joy that cannot be compared to any other achievement. Around us, we see so many needy cases, but the only obstacle is not even resources, but a willing and loving heart to show these victims some ounce of kindness. At Feed and Tend, we decided to take a step forward towards attending to a unique set of needy people; those that society might have completely forgotten about: The jigger-ridden poor people. The jigger menace is such an old and truly bashful one, which explains why its victims do not seek medical help. Sadly, our health system is blind to the fact this problem is still prevalent in some remote areas of our country. It is this most glaring but secretly guarded need that motivates Feed and Tend to jump into action.
How are Jiggers a Problem?
According to an article published in the BMC Blog Network titled: Jiggers: A painful Infestation, many people living in tropical or sub-tropical regions are exposed to the risk of a debilitating infestation of these tiny sand-fleas, yet little is known of their epidemiology.
A jigger infestation, known as tungiasis, can be very painful; I speak from personal experience. This tiny sand-flea has a variety of other colloquial names including nigua, chigoe and bicho de pé (Portugues for foot-bug). The last one, and its scientific name, Tunga penetrans, giving clues to its habit, as the adult female burrows into the skin, usually of the foot.
Penetration of the skin causes intense itching and is followed by inflammation and acute pain. The jigger is evident as a small swollen lesion, with a black dot at the centre, which can grow to the size of a pea.
Severe pathology following an infestation is caused by bacteria entering the skin when the jigger penetrates. These infections can lead to abscess formation, tissue necrosis and gangrene. Tungiasis has also been associated with tetanus, possible due to the entry of the soil pathogen, Clostridium tetani into the wound. In addition, Wolbachia bacteria, present in the jigger, release inflammation-inducing lipopolysaccharides into the surrounding tissue when the females die.
If left untreated, jigger infestation can completely impair a patient's locomotive abilities, lead to retarded growth, promote poor brain development, or even kill.
Jiger Eradication
Feed and tend raises awareness about the Jigger menace and offers clinical services to both the affected and infected individuals across the
counties in the Western part of Kenya. Jigger Eradication requires a holistic approach that encompasses treatment, feeding, and ensuring that
the environments in which the victims live meet the requisite safety and human health standards.
Organized Food Drives
Due to the debilitating effects of Jigger infestation, victims are normally incapable of fending for themselves, hence end up languishing in abject poverty, characterized by acute starvation, poor conditions of living, and poor health.
In order to temporarily mitigate these effects, during a treatment regime, we organize for food drives, either virtually or physically, to help the victims to quickly recuperate. Moreover, since our approach to jigger eradication is a holistic one, we ensure that a victim that has been attended to is well taken care of, hence the name "Feed and Tend".
