AFRICA/KENYA - Jigger disease severely marks AIDS orphans

Monday, 12 October 2015 healthcare  

The Good Life Orphanage

Nairobi (Agenzia Fides) - In Busia and Siaya more than 509 children suffer from jiggers, a skin infection caused by a flea that damages joints and makes walking difficult, they can walk back to school after being treated by the Christian Heart For Kenya group, affiliated to the Free Pentecostal Fellowship in Kenya (FPFK). In all, Heart For Kenya has assisted 1,500 orphan schoolchildren. In a press release, Pentecostal Bishop Gabriel Ouma said that after the death of their parents due to AIDS, most of the victims of jiggers had been left in the care of elderly grandparents. In addition, the increase in the prevalence rate of HIV and AIDS has caused the worsening of the phenomenon of children who have to take care of the family, forcing many of them to leave school to look for a minimum income to survive. With the contribution of the Christian group some have managed to go to University as well as pursue technical training courses for teachers. (AP) (Agenzia Fides 12/10/2015)


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