200808051961 | Kenyan boy in circumcision injury

Kenyan boy in circumcision injury

A sixteen-year-old Kenyan boy is being treated in hospital after losing part of his penis in a circumcision ritual.
He suffered the accident during the Luhya people's circumcision festival in western Kenya when the circumciser's knife slipped cutting off the head of the penis.

Reporters say traditional circumcision often comes in for criticism because of the health risks but is a longstanding part of the Luhya culture.

Doctors say he is in a stable condition but may require reconstructive surgery, and may not not be able to ever have sex.

'Not suing'

Medical officers at the Bungoma District hospital told the BBC that the tip of the boy's penis was chopped off by mistake when the knife wielded by the circumciser slipped.

He has been undergoing surgery on Friday to prevent further bleeding.

They said it was thought that he would be able to urinate but may not be able to have sex in future.
Correspondents say reconstructive surgery is expensive and the boy may have to go abroad for surgery.

Hospital officials said this was the first such incident this year and in previous years boys had been admitted with complications such as bleeding or infections.

The boy's father said that it was an unfortunate accident but he would not be suing the circumciser for compensation.

"I have learnt a bitter lesson," he told the BBC.
"I shall take my remaining two boys to be circumcised in hospital in future."

A new programme has been launched to introduce circumcision in neighbouring Nyanza province to combat the spread of HIV and Aids.

About 2.5 million of 32 million Kenyans are currently living with HIV and aids