A Day Without Shoes

I use to think that I knew what jiggers were. My granny in Texas is always talking about the jiggers that we can potentially get playing in the pasture, and she follows by sharing with us her 'homeopathic' remedies for getting them out. So, when we were in Kenya last November, I heard a lot of talk of jiggers and couldn't believe that the caregivers (mostly volunteers with big hearts and strong stomachs) hadn't heard of my granny's home remedies, and was excited that I actually knew some way to contribute and help!

Well, if they were chiggers, I indeed would have known. There's something about that Southern accent my granny has that makes a few words with different meanings flow together; take snake and stake for example (yelling at me to watch out for the cows calling them stakes, my silly granny... oh, snakes..).

The only way to remove jiggers, if you are one of the millions of people in the world who suffer from having them, is to dig them out with a sharp object. In your mind, picture little maggots swarming around inside your feet, creating infection and terrible discomfort. Jiggers are the product of fleas that burrow in feet (most commonly in farm animals, but surpassing the goats and cows with infection are children in developing countries). The fleas lay eggs and turn into little white worm looking things. If your foot is itching like mad, you find something sharp to scratch at it; the infection is under the skin, not showing on the surface.

Alright, graphic enough for you? Me too. I think I'll skip breakfast.

Here is a photo for you!

courtesy of Amy Biemeck, www.safariofsix.blogspot.com

There are much more graphic photos I could share with you, but this should be enough to convey the intensity of jiggers.

So, how does one become infected with jiggers?

From not wearing shoes, usually because you cannot afford them.

Today is "A Day Without Shoes," a global movement that occurs one day a year, started by Toms Shoes. The objective is to raise awareness about diseases that stem from not wearing shoes, such as the potentially life threatening jiggers you've just learned about.

If you are not able to go without shoes today, then please spread the word about it.

Below is another awesome video, produced by my incredibly talented husband. It will encourage you, and will hopefully be a useful tool in engaging others to join the movement in fighting for social justice.

Have a wonderful Day Without Shoes!