JIGGERS INVADE SCHOOL IN MASINDI, TEACHERS BLAME PARENTS FOR NEGLIGANCE

By Yosam Gucwaki

In Masindi

www.mknewslink.com

Pupils of Miramura primary in Bwijanga Sub County Masindi district have been invaded by Jiggers

Teachers at Miramura primary school are scared that the entire population at the school might be infected with jiggers if serious interventions are not put in place to address the increasing number of pupils who are attacked by the parasites

The teachers however attributed the problem to the recklessness of parents who have failed to take proper care of their children at their homes

The school has a total enrolment of 364 children but with limited classrooms desks, primary one primary two pupils sit in the dust during learning sessions.

According to Lydia Akugizibwe a primary three teacher at the school, said that most of the pupils who are attacked by jiggers are unhygienic with dirt clothes while most of them do not even wash their uniforms for the entire week.

She added that whenever they send these pupils to go back home to remove the jiggers , most of them may spend the entire month without coming back to school while others abandon studying completely.

She thus appealed to the district and sub county leadership to come to their rescue by coming to the community and conduct a door to door sensitization campaign  of these parents  to cause behavioral change and have children catered for by their parents

Akugizibwe added that affected pupils cannot concentrate in class because they spend most of their time scratching themselves and are often discriminated by their fellows.

Teachers also find it challenging because the eggs of the jiggers spill on the floor and also enter their feet which, makes them not to move closure to these pupils with jiggers.

However, Julius Asaba another teacher at the school attributed the infection to the poor hygiene at the school where children are sitting at the floor which is dusty and dirty due to lack of desk at the school.

Asaba said lack of desks make children to sit on the papyrus mats which are dirty and dusty adding that some children even don’t bath and come to school bare footed which is a serious challenge on us.

Julius Kahira the male councilor from Bwijanga sub county blamed the parents for being negligent and not helping the children to get rid of the parasite by removing them and added that parents always want to blame government but it is not government role to tell children to remove jiggers from their feet saying that   parents should wake up and do the need full.

Source: www.mknewslink.com a greater western Uganda news website
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