Our latest Corporate Social Responsibility was in Baringo County which has a population of 555,561 and a poverty rate of 58.5%, the county is still lagging behind in its development outcomes. In terms of its health indicators, Baringo County is still faced with key challenges including HIV/AIDS prevalence of 3.1%, TB and Malaria. Whereas efforts have been put towards addressing these, there is a mismatch of efforts in other prevalent healthcare related problems with jigger infestation being one of them.

Several areas of Baringo are affected by the jigger menace and there has been little in terms of efforts in terms of addressing it. This has led to the victims suffering in silence with majority of them living in abject poverty, severe stigmatization, and spread of other diseases including HIV/AIDS, eventual disability and even death.

Rationale

The net effect of the jigger menace manifests itself in worsening living conditions, increased poverty, poor education standards and attainment and weakening of household economies. With little being done to address it, jigger infestation therefore presents not only a direct health challenge but also a major development challenge to the people of Baringo County.

It is because of this that Sovereign Group Limited through Sian Foundation in conjunction with the Baringo County representatives and other partners initiated and spearheaded an anti-jigger campaign targeting all affected areas of the county. The overall goal of the campaign is to completely eradicate jigger infestation in Baringo County by the year 2017 and therefore contribute towards enhancing the health, education and development outcomes of Baringo County.

In appreciating the contributing factors attributed to the jigger infestation, the project had been designed to incorporate various aspects including household economic strengthening, access to safe drinking water, improvement of living conditions for the aged and the poor, improvement of education and literacy standards and enhancing girl child education through provision of proper sanitary pads. This is a departure from the initial focus on jigger treatment and cleanup alone which did not consider the aforementioned factors thus resulting in high rates of reinfection and continued prevalence of jiggers even after treatment.

Our CSR partner in Baringo County, the office of Baringo Women Representative had carried out, Initial anti-jigger campaigns have been conducted in Baringo County in Kituro, Kabasis, Timboiywo, Ngetwoi, Kapkiai, Ossen and Kaptum areas.

Target Area

The project targets Saimo Location in Kabartonjo division of Baringo North sub- county in Baringo County. The outreach shall specifically target the following villages during the two day campaign;

• Kasisit
• Kapchepkor
• Kapchepkulei
• Kasiber
• Poin
• Kasesya
• Sesoi
• Kaptere
• Kamotiony

Target Population

The number of persons targeted for jigger treatment is 100 as provided by the MOH Baringo North who will constitute the primary target of the project.  The other targeted populations shall be 10 Early Child Development Centers with 500 learners, 13 primary schools with 3040 pupils and 4 secondary schools with 1023 students. The project shall also target the aged and vulnerable who shall be identified by the community leaders. The project shall also target 1127 girls who shall benefit from the sanitary pads.

Key Activities

The key activities that shall be undertaken include the following;

• Jigger treatment and clean up as the core activity
• Provision of sanitary pads to girls in primary and secondary schools
• Provision of shoes to all primary school children and all those affected by jiggers
• Fumigation and dusting of households
• Provision of blankets and food donations to the infected, the poor and the aged
• Planting of bamboo seedlings along river beds and key water catchment areas
• Provision of books and basic learning materials to learners in ECDs, primary and secondary schools
• Health and education talks for sensitization and overall improvement of education and living standards

Key Partners

Together with Baringo County leadership, the office of Baringo Women Rep, our project aim was to bring end to jiggers in Baringo, to promote education and save our environment from soil erosion by donating trees etc, promote talents by soccer balls donations, preach patriotism by donating flags to schools and Chief camps, support the welfare of girl child by donating sanitary towel among other activities

Our Group through our Corporate Social Responsibility programs was also part of a 6 day Free Medical Camp with our Talent’s volunteering courtesy of the international organization, Kuza Africa Initiative (KAI).

“I know what I have given you, what I do not know is what you have received” Antonio Porchia.