Saturday, October 16, 2010

Jigger politics: when the media makes leaders scrub jigger-infested feet ahead of elections

For the past one month, the media in Uganda has been awash with stories concerning jigger infestation in Busoga region. One might think that the jigger epidemic started, or even came to light just a couple of weeks ago. However, the infestation by this parasite has been with us for longer than has been reported. But the earliest record (on the internet) goes back to June 2008, when some Honorable Members of Parliament from Busoga vowed to arrest anyone infested with this parasite saying that, “It is total negligence for any sane Ugandan to suffer from jiggers”. Two years down the road one simply wonders whether it is not these very leaders that could have neglected their own people. Because why would they be the ones washing their electorate’s jigger-infested feet right now, hurriedly ridding them of jiggers, just four months ahead of the 2011 general elections?


The media has done a very commendable job of relentlessly reporting about this issue. You will find more than forty stories (articles, opinions, news pieces and letters) on this ‘subject: most of them written in the last one month. And this has happened during the time when government is trying to consolidate its achievements ahead of next year’s general elections. However, the fact that the government has finally launched a campaign to rid the country of jiggers emphasizes the role and influence of the media on guiding government action and policy. Or should I say forcing it to act when it veers of course and neglecting its duty in the process?! Interestingly, what would have been seen as neleglect will turn into heroism and the government will be assured of bagging some votes for its actions early next year.
 
Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) such as The Busoga Health Sensitisation Networks (BHSN) and PLAN International have done their part. These came in to help in 2009; almost a year after the MPs had vowed to make arrests. This has also shown how important the role such organizations is. Much as they might be ill funded, they bring a ray of hope to some of the people as the leadership is still ignoring their plight or when it is unable to act.

Several people have written. Blame has been apportioned: poor sanitation and hygiene, ignorance, laziness, neglect and poverty among others. Jiggers have caused death, incapacitated several and have even been blamed for poor performance in school. Suggestions to curb the problem have also been made: treatment, eradication by spraying, sensitization as well as eradication of poverty and empowerment of the poor who are the worst hit. And the voices have been hearkened to. For that is what the action by the state would imply. Government launched its campaign on October 13 2010 with a gloved Prince William Nadiope of Busoga providing manicure to his subjects while the cameras flushed away. 
Prince William Nadiope treating his subjects in Kamuli District

Although the timing and location of the launch might be questionable, the fact that efforts have  finally been made is very much appreciated. Maybe one would have expected that since the incidence that brought this whole saga to light occurred in Bugiri district, the Wakooli of Bukooli (Chief David Muluuya Kawunye) and Hon Fred Mukisa,(State Minister for Fisheries in Uganda and MP for Bukooli county in Bugiri) would have spearhead the campaign. But the campaign was launched by the Gabula of Bugabula Prince William Nadiope and Hon. Rebecca Kadaga Woman MP for Kamuli. In Kamuli district.  Anyway, the campaign was launched. The victims received treatment, slippers and basins. No mention has been made about approaches to deal with the economic empowerment of these people. And yet it should be obvious that if they cannot afford to buy soap, one wash at the campaign launch wouldn’t be sufficient to qualify them as being hygienic. Even if they now have a pair of slippers and a basin. Government efforts may soon go to waste if poverty is not addressed. The slippers on their own cannot protect these people from the jiggers since jiggers can jump up to twenty centimeters off the ground. A slipper is no more than two centimeters thick! The slippers will also surely wear out soon. One wonders what the lasting strategy is.  

Interestingly what would have been seen, by the suffering poor, as neglect by government or local leadership, is going to turn into heroism. And definitely the ruling party and politicians involved in this campaign are bound to benefit through the ballot box come 2011. We are very likely to hear statements such as “We are the ones who helped you get rid of jiggers…” as the movement drags home sack-loads of votes from this region. The sort of thing that happens when new districts are created and roads are tarmacked or graded.
 
But as the jigger politics rages on in the background, I found it interesting to chronicle the debate in the media that finally led the government into action. I have collected close to fifty titles (and their links) that have featured this subject. Maybe you missed reading some of them. Now you will be able to just click and catch up with the unfolding of events and the debate.

Below are the various stories on jiggers that have appeared in the Ugandan media.

People with jiggers face arrest - MPs 

The Monitor June 23 2008

The Monitor February 10 2009
The Monitor February 17 2009


Uganda- 10th April 2010 Video 

The New Vision 29th June, 2010

We must kick jiggers out of this country 

The Monitor August  23 2010


The New Vision  21st September, 2010

Jiggers kill 3-month-old baby

The Monitor September 28 2010
  
The Monitor September 29 2010
The New Vision 29th September, 2010

The Monitor September 30 2010

It is sad Ugandans still die, suffer from jiggers attack 

The Monitor September 30 2010

 How jiggers have bred pain and death in Busoga

The Monitor October 1 2010

The Monitor October 1 2010


Busoga leaders should unite the people to fight jiggers
The Monitor October 2 2010


The Monitor  October 3 2010 

  
Jiggers are just a simple problem of poor hygiene

The New Vision 4 October, 2010

Busoga Diocese joins war on jiggers

The Monitor October 5 2010

  
Jiggers attack is a telling story of 25 years of NRM
The Monitor October 6 2010 

Use environmental approach to fight the jiggers menance

The Monitor October 6 2010

Busoga politicians welcome to fight jiggers infestation

The Monitor October 7 2010

Eliminate poverty and jiggers will fast disappear in Busoga

The Monitor October 8 2010

Uganda oyee! 48 years of uhuru, 48 years of jiggers

The Monitor October 9 2010

  
The Monitor 10 October 2010

Avoid dust to escape jiggers infestation

The Monitor October 10 2010

Set up jiggers medical unit

The Monitor October 11 2010

Radio Simba 11 October 2010

67 affected by jiggers in Kitgum

The Monitor October 12 2010


NTV Uganda October 12 2010

Campaign against jiggers starts today

The Monitor October 12 2010

Anti-jiggers campaign set for launch

Radio Sapientia  12 October 2010

The New Vision 12th October, 2010

The New Vision 13th October, 2010

Stop the jiggers menace at once

The Monitor October 13 2010

Gabula kicks off jiggers campaign in Busoga region

The Monitor October 14 2010

Let Us Fight Rats, Jiggers in Busoga

The New Vision 14 October 2010

The Monitor 14 October 2010
 
The New Vision 14th October, 2010

Of jiggers, illiteracy and development economics

The New Vision 15th October, 2010

The New Vision 15th October, 2010

Jiggers eradication requires effective communication plan

The Monitor  October 16, 2010



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