This project will provide for program costs for the Hope Center and community clinics for one month in Uganda, bringing hope, health, and freedom from foot-related disease to over 600 people in Uganda suffering who are from jiggers.
In Uganda, a parasitic sand flea, called a jigger, causes debilitating health effects for vulnerable members of the population and carries a negative social stigma that results in exclusion and isolation from communities. For the populations we serve, jiggers are a barrier to community involvement and support, education, and productive careers. When we remove this barrier and teach people how to live jigger-free, it changes the whole trajectory of their lives.
The Hope Center serves as the launching pad for our holistic treatment program that provides education, medical care, and psychosocial support to those we serve. These services are provided through weekly community clinics where the largest numbers are reached (150), a stay at the Hope Center where severe or especially vulnerable cases are treated for an average of two weeks, and follow-up visits by our team of social workers.
This project will impact over 600 lives affected by jiggers in Uganda, equipping them with the education, resources, and confidence to live jigger-free lives. This means children can stay in school, adults can continue to work to provide for their families, and families are empowered to live healthy lives.
