Missions for Orphans has become involved in providing medical care in local villages for jiggers, ringworm, and de-worming. . Jiggers are a type of sand flea indigenous to the tropical areas in the soil. For people without shoes or in unhygienic conditions, it can create open sores. When attached to the host skin, the female feeds by burrowing into the skin of its host and will plant eggs. Lesions, inflammation, and infection are a result. In extreme cases tetanus can occur, loss of limbs, or even death. Going into the surrounding villages, we wash feet, treat jiggers, check for ringworm, and dispense deworming pills. As a preventative measure, we fumigate homes for jiggers in the nearby villages.
Occasionally we provide emergency health assistance and/or hospitalization for other health conditions that arise. Hellen was born with bladder exstrophy, at age 8 we met her in the town of Bondo. She had surgery fall of 2008 to repair her abdomen and bladder, she is now a healthy 16 year old. Rehema age 6, was born with a growth on her spine. In 2016 she had surgery to repair her spine. We provide well checks for each girl and continuity of care.