Charles Kakamwa
18 June 2008
Kampala — A FAMILY infested with jiggers in Mawoito village, Jinja district has been admitted to the hospital after their state got worse. John Kapere, 60, and his four children, aged between one and six, were on Friday admitted to Kakira Health Centre after neighbours reported the deteriorating state of the family to the sub-county authorities.
None of the children goes to school. A Kakira sub-county probation and welfare officer, Paul Ndobooli, said they went to Kapere's home after a neighbour, Rukia Naigaga, reported the matter on Thursday.
"We found the family in a pathetic state. Some of the children could hardly walk, they were filthy and looked like they had spent a week without eating.
"So we decided to bring them to the health centre for treatment," he said.
"Over 50 jiggers were removed from each of the children."
The health centre manager, Juma Toola, said the nurses bathed the children, shaved them, cut their nails and removed jiggers from their feet and palms.
"They are still admitted as we await assistance," he observed, adding that it was the first case of severe jiggers.
The children's rags were removed and they were dressed in better clothes.
Residents on Friday flocked the health unit to see the family.
Local leaders later placed a box in which people intending to see them had to drop money or material support.
The Kakira LC3 chairman, John Kamau and speaker Emukule-Etyang made contributions.
By 5:00pm, at least sh9,000 and a heap of clothes had been collected.
Kapere, the family head, blamed his woes on the village leaders.
"I am a poor man who cannot give the children all the necessities.
"I wanted Government assistance but failed to access it since the LC1 chairman refused to give me an introduction letter."
The 60-year-old former cane-cutter at Kakira Sugar Works also accused his wife, Aidha Buyinza, of abandoning the children in January 'without any reason'.
"Jiggers are rampant in Kagogwa, Kabembe and Mawoito villages," noted Immaculate Auma, the LC3 vice-chairperson.
The district probation and welfare officer, Opio Ouma, on Saturday said he had instructed the Kakira community development officer to ensure the family was properly treated before the case was investigated.
On whether Kapere could be charged with child neglect, Ouma said: "There are laws but we also consider the circumstances.
"It is not easy to charge someone who is also affected by the situation."
Last year, a man from Mafubira sub-county, was charged at the Jinja magistrate's court with child neglect after his children were ravaged by jiggers.
Ouma noted that cases of child labour and neglect were common in Kakira, Busedde and Buyengo sub-counties, the main sugarcane-growing areas.
Kakira speaker Etyang blamed the rise in cases of child neglect on drinking and domestic violence.
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