Jiggers, not to be confused with Chiggers, are a sand flea found in Sub-Saharan climates. Jiggers cause swelling, ulcerations, itching, infections, and the pain leaves many people with walking problems. Jiggers leave most victims with these problems because of their ability to burrow into the skin. Female Jiggers burrow into the skin, usually hands and feet, and lay egg sacks which can grow up to the size of a pea. Once in the body the fleas continue to multiply laying more eggs. While Jiggers in small numbers are not deadly, the secondary infections such as gangrene, tetanus, and other diseases caused by Jiggers can be fatal. 
     Missions for Orphans visits rural villages, local primary schools, and village homes to provide treatment for Jigger infestation of the home and skin. 

     Ringworm is a common fungal skin infection. Because of the close living quarters for most people in rural villages ringworm is highly contagious and is passed from person to person. Missions for Orphans goes into these villages and primary schools in surrounding areas to administer topical cream treatments. In some cases topical cream is sent home for additional family members and continued followup care.  
     Tapeworm is a parasite that lives in the stomach of its host. Humans become infected when eating food that contain tapeworm eggs or comes into contact with contaminated water, contaminated soil,  or animal feces. A tapeworm begins in the stomach and can reach the intestine where they then can mature into adult tapeworm. A tapeworm can live up to 20 years in a host and can reach up to lengths of 50 feet long. Missions for Orphans visit villages or surrounding schools to administer oral medication to treat for tapeworm before they become overactive and harmful. In order for these treatments to be effective, the villagers must return for a followup treatment of oral antibiotic for the second dose. 

     In 2008 when visiting another orphanage
in Bondo Missions for Orphans went to a primary school Barkowino. While visiting this school we met Hellen. Hellen was a 7 year old girl who was showing signs of Jaundice. The Headmaster of the school requested we look at her abdomen. Upon further examination we noticed that she was suffering from bladder exstrophy. This means that her bladder and urethra we on the exterior of her abdomen. For the cost of $1 we were able to take her to a local hospital for an examination. While there it cost $12 to have her admitted into the hospital. Once the local hospital had evaluated her, there was nothing that they could do, so they discharged her and informed us she was in need of a specialist. After she was discharged from the local hospital, Missions for Orphams took her to a missionary hospital named Bethany Kids, in Kijabe, Kenya, where they then treated her. In the surgical procedure they closed her abdominal wall, fixed the bladder, and rebuilt the urethra and genitals. The total cost for the surgical procedure and hospital stay of 6 weeks was $660. Hellen is still taken to medical appts for updated procedures and semi-annually for check ups to make sure that she stays healthy. Hellen is now a thriving 16 year old as seen on the far right. 

     Hellen was the inspiration to begin Missions for Orphans. After meeting Hellen it was evident that there were so many children in Kenya that were in need of assistance that was otherwise unobtainable.  

     In August of 2016 while on a medical mission in Tranz Nzoia, Kenya Missions for Orphans came across Rehema. Rehema was a 6 year old orphan raised by a woman from her village. Upon meeting Rehema it was evident she was in need of medical assistance. Rehema walked hunched over and had a visible deformity. With donations Missions for Orphans was able to send her to  Kijabe Hospital where it was determined she needed an immediate opperation. After speaking to the doctors it was said that she would not have had to have surgery, had she sought medical care for the growth prior to the age of 4. Upon evaluation she was diagnosed with a life threatening tumor which grew on her spine. Because of the weight of the tumor she walked hunched over and it was crushing her organs, making it difficult to breathe and difficult for the function of other organs. The surgical procedure cost $660. On February 21, 2017 her surgery was performed and successful. They removed the entire tumor, and it will not keep her from growing.  Rehema was also fit for a brace which she wears to protect the surgical incision site and helps her to walk upright and straighten her spine. 
     Rehema is still recieving follow up care with the use of donations from Missions for Orphans. Now that Rehema is more healthy, she is able to attend school. Because Rehema was not able to attend school prior to this she was very behind and now attends a school for special needs. This is possible because of the help and support from donations to Missions for Orphans. 

     In 2014 while on a medical mission visiting multiple small villages, Missions for Orphans was introduced to Juma. Juma was severly malnourished and infested with jiggers.  He was treated immediately for jigger removal and then taken for followup care at the local hospital. Due to the amount of jiggers that he had, he was in need of antibiotics and a tetanus shot. After the medical care for Juma, Missions for Orphans went to his home and treated for jigger fumigation. 
     In 2016 Missions for Orphans returned to the same village and found Juma severly malnurished and again infested with Jiggers, as well as his brother and mother. After visiting with his mother and treating them and their home for Jigger removal and fumigation, it was determined that he was in need of more medical care. Juma and his family were then sent to the local hospital where they were treated.
     Without a father, it was difficult for his mother to fully support Juma and provide for him and his siblings. Because of this, the mother requested that Missions for Orphans care for him and give him a home with the Kipsaina Boys home. Juma is now healthy, thriving, has frequent visits with his family,  and is now attending a private school who can help him with his special needs in education.