A Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology’s (MMUST) Professor Maurice Vincent Omolo has developed a bio-rational product, Jigger Gel, which provides a painless alternative for treating jigger infections.
A bio-rational product is a pest control solution derived from natural sources, such as plant extracts or other biological compounds, and is designed to eliminate pests with minimal environmental impact. Jiggers are considered parasitic pests.
Traditionally, treatment of jiggers involved extracting them using sterile instruments or soaking the affected limbs in an antiseptic solution to suffocate them.
According to Prof. Omolo, these traditional methods often cause severe pain, emotional distress, and discomfort to the patient.
Speaking to KNA in Kakamega town, Prof. Omolo said the new Jigger Gel is applied after cleaning the affected area and it kills the flea without causing pain or irritation.
He noted that the Jigger Gel is as a result of several years of research under the Upscaling Novel Bio-rational Products for controlling Tungiasis in Eastern Africa Project, supported by BioInnovate Africa.
The project is based at the Centre for African Medicinal and Nutritional Flora and Fauna (CAMNFF), which is hosted within the Masinde Muliro University Science, Innovation, and Incubation Centre.
The National Research Fund (NRF), funded the research to the tune of Sh18 million.
The Jigger Gel is currently undergoing field trials in parts of western Kenya before its rollout to the public.
In the project, Prof. Omolo also partnered with the International Centre for Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE) and the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO).
“Jiggers remain a major problem not only in Western Kenya but also in Siaya, Kwale and several African countries, extending even to Latin America,” Prof. Omolo said.
He added that although potassium permanganate and hydrogen peroxide have traditionally been used to clean jigger wounds, they are harsh oxidizing agents that cause intense pain and could delay healing.
Omolo, who is a Professor of Organic Chemistry, said his research focused on bioprospecting western Kenya flora to identify natural compounds capable of managing Tunga penetrans.
He said the Jigger Gel has been patented and published under the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and has also received a patent from the Kenya Industrial Property Institute (KIPI).
With support from BioInnovate Africa and NRF, the Jigger Gel has been refined into three prototypes: a full blend, half blend and mini-blend.
“The Jigger Gel has been tested on rabbits and guinea pigs to determine its safety at animal level. KALRO came on board as a partner to help in controlling fleas in animals because when jiggers are not attacking human beings, they end up attacking domestic animals like dogs, cats and pigs,” he noted.
He said once field trials are completed and the product is approved for public use, the team will embark on mass production, which is expected to create employment opportunities for locals.
“We are going to set up a micro-plant to process the Jigger Gel in its crude form, which will also benefit the community. We will further scale down production to the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) level and several Kenyans will be hired to manage the factory here at MMUST,” he noted.
He said the micro-plant would be installed and operated at the MMUST Science Park, noting that they have already ordered the machine, which would be launched soon by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NRF and MMUST Vice Chancellor.
At the moment, the A-to-Z Group of Companies from Arusha, Tanzania, is supporting the production of the Jigger Gel as a partner in the project.
“I am collaborating with Prof. Richard Echodu from Gulu University in Uganda as the Karamoja area is also heavily infested with jiggers. I am also working with Dr. Paul Mireji from KALRO and Dr. Micheal Okal from A-Z Group of Companies. These are the experts behind the Jigger Gel,” Prof. Omolo noted.
The Jigger Gel comes as the latest innovation to treat jiggers after a jigger lotion was launched in August 2024.
The Saraya Jigger lotion was developed by Saraya Kenya in partnership with Nagasaki University Japan, Ahadi Kenya Trust and the Ministry of Health.
To eradicate jiggers, the Safety Professionals and Experts in Disaster Management Volunteers Association of Kenya (SPEDVAK) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Pius Masai urged the government and other partners to establish jigger treatment clinics in heavily infested areas to support their eradication efforts.
“The rate at which a victim is attacked by the jiggers in heavily infested areas is high and within some few weeks or months, the jiggers multiply and spread to other body parts but with a clinic nearby, most of them will easily get treated,” he noted.
By Moses Wekesa
