Ever found yourself wondering what all the fuss around Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is actually about? Isn’t it the same as male circumcision, where only the foreskin is cut off? For the men, have you ever sat and imagined what your life would be like if your parents and relatives held you down as a teenage boy and cut off your penis, scrotum, and testicles, claiming this was the best way to celebrate you coming of age and calling it an important step towards claiming your manhood? Well, buckle up, folks, today’s episode is an intense one.
The WHO defines Female Genital Mutilation as comprising all procedures that involve partial or total removal of the external female genitalia, or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons. The practice has no health benefits for girls and women and can result in severe bleeding and problems urinating, and later cysts, menstrual difficulties, infections, as well as complications in childbirth and increased risk of newborn deaths. The practice of FGM is recognised internationally as a violation of the human rights of girls and women. The practice also violates a person's right to health, security, and physical integrity; the right to be free from torture and cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment; and the right to life, in instances when the procedure results in death.
Dr. Muriu Kinuthia joins us on today’s episode to discuss in detail important aspects of FGM, including the reconstructive procedures available to women who were subjected to this practice. It is a very technical conversation, but both Dr. Muriu and Dr. Claire took time to help simplify the conversation so that you, the audience, can literally become an expert on the topic. We hope that by doing so, everyone watching or listening can fully understand and feel empowered enough to speak up in their own communities to help put an end to this dangerous practice.
Dr. Muriu Kinuthia is a Plastic, Reconstructive, and Aesthetic Surgeon in private practice in Nairobi, with a strong passion for microsurgery, a very complex and delicate aspect of his field. He is also an associate editor for a plastic surgery journal, the PRS Global Open. He strives to ensure that clinical practice is evidence-based and that patients receive care that is safe and that can be replicated internationally at the same high-quality standard. His hobbies include a passion for photography and playing the guitar, which serves as both a relaxation tool and a means to keep his hands well-exercised, given the intricate surgeries he performs.
Connect with Dr. Muriu on all social media platforms @dr.muriu.kinuthia To book an appointment with Dr. Muriu, call PrimeCare Health Services on 0712 220 450
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