Sabina Sumba had heard stories about jiggers from her grandmother, but she had never imagined she would have to deal with one herself. Living in a small rural village, she had seen neighbors suffer from the tiny parasites that burrowed into the skin, causing swelling, pain, and even severe infections. Yet, she had always been careful—until one fateful day when she felt a strange itching sensation on her foot.
At first, she ignored it, thinking it was just a mosquito bite or a small wound from walking barefoot. But as days passed, the discomfort grew worse. Her foot became swollen, and a sharp pain shot through her toe whenever she tried to walk. It was then that her grandmother, a wise woman with years of experience, took a closer look and immediately recognized the problem.
“My child, this is a jigger,” she said gently. “We must remove it before it gets worse.”
Sabina felt a wave of fear. She had seen others go through the painful process of jigger removal, but now it was her turn. Her grandmother handed her a safety pin, sterilized over a flame, and guided her on what to do. With trembling hands, Sabina pressed the tip of the pin against the swollen area, slowly scraping away the outer skin.
She winced as she worked, but she remained focused. Bit by bit, she exposed the tiny, white sac where the jigger had buried itself. Sweat dripped from her forehead as she carefully dug around it, making sure not to burst the sac inside her skin. Finally, with a gentle pull, the jigger came loose. She placed it on a leaf, staring at the tiny parasite that had caused her so much discomfort.
Her grandmother smiled proudly. “You did well, Sabina. Now clean the wound and apply antiseptic.”
As she cleaned her foot, Sabina felt a sense of accomplishment. She had faced her fear and removed the jigger by herself. More importantly, she realized the importance of hygiene and wearing shoes to prevent future infections.
From that day on, Sabina became an advocate for foot care in her village. She helped others learn how to prevent and treat jigger infestations, determined to ensure that no one else had to suffer as she did.
