A 35-year-old man from Merti, Isiolo County, is seeking urgent reconstructive surgery after mutilating his genitals while under the influence of multiple hard drugs. The man, whose identity has been withheld for privacy reasons, is currently undergoing rehabilitation and mental health treatment at a local facility.
According to Collins Shabaan, a psychiatrist at the rehabilitation center, the patient was found to have excessively abused miraa, bhang (cannabis), Chaves, tobacco, and antipsychotic drugs. He reportedly lost all sense of awareness when he inflicted the life-altering injury upon himself.
“It has barely been a month since his admission, but the patient is responding well to treatment and is starting to regain self-awareness,” Shabaan said.
The man is the second case of genital self-mutilation related to drug abuse that the facility has handled within a year, raising concerns over the severe impact of substance abuse on mental health in the region.
Struggles with Physical and Mental Health
Medical professionals remain deeply concerned about the physical consequences of the incident. The patient’s wounds have not yet fully healed, and the damage caused by the self-inflicted injury is extensive. Additionally, he reportedly inserted a metallic object into his genitals before the act, leading to a severe infection.
After the incident, he was initially treated at Merti Sub-County Hospital before being referred to Isiolo Referral Hospital and later Meru Level Five Hospital, where he received specialized care for over a month.
Doctors now say that without reconstructive surgery, the man is at a high risk of severe depression once he fully regains mental stability. His condition requires urgent medical intervention to prevent further psychological distress.
The patient, however, does not recall harming himself, a common symptom in individuals experiencing drug-induced psychosis.
The case highlights the urgent need for increased awareness and intervention programs to address the growing issue of substance abuse and its devastating effects on mental health in Kenya.
