SUNDAY, AUGUST 31, 2014
I delight in seeing my patients recover and lead normal lives
Dr Catherine Mutisya. As the head of clinical services at Mathari Hospital, Dr Mutisya has ait all.
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Why did you choose psychiatry as your career?
I grew up with an older brother who had intellectual disability and an uncle who had schizophrenia.
These early childhood experiences made me comfortable taking care of such people.
The same experience also made me curious to understand prevention and treatment of such disorders.
There was no other speciality in medicine which could fulfill this curiosity.
Is that what inspired you to work with the mentally ill?
I was inspired by the fact that whenever my uncle who had schizophrenia was admitted to Machakos General Hospital, he would be mentally stable upon being discharged.
I was, therefore, certain that even though people in the village said that his illness was the result of a curse, it responded to medical treatment.
I also learnt in medical school that what my elder brother who had profound mental disability needed most was behavioural training or therapy and this could only be learnt in psychiatry.
What has kept you going?
I recognise that each of my patients is somebody’s brother, uncle, father, husband, son, daughter, mother, sister or aunt.
I always put myself in the patients’ and caregivers’ shoes and this motivates me.
How many mental cases do you handle per day?
When I am not doing administrative duties I can handle as many as 60 patients or more.
Sometimes the work overwhelms me and I just have to take a break.
Mathari has been in the news for the wrong reasons, including alleged mistreatment of patients. What is the problem?
We definitely have our challenges but as members of staff and management we are doing our best to address them though some of the problems require long-term investment.
The infrastructure, for example, needs an overhaul and we need more laundry machines.
We also need additional staff, including clinical psychologists. It is strenuous to work long hours especially when taking care of mentally ill patients.
What do you consider the happiest moment in your life?
Being a nominee to “Top 40 under 40” in the Business Daily. I was elated.
I felt that my hard work had finally been recognised.
Does working with mentally ill patients affect how you relate with your family?
Not really. I try to separate work and home. In any case, studying psychiatry has helped me understand human behaviour better.
How did you meet your husband?
I first met my husband at the University of Nairobi — Hall 13 to be precise.
As we courted, the friendship we developed superseded any other and up to today he is my best friend.
He has been supportive and I know I can always count on him.
In many instances he has made me know that I was the most important person in his life.
We joined Family Life Ministry when we were five years into our marriage and even before I specialised in psychiatry we had become counsellors. This helped to enrich our marriage.
At some point we chaired Family Life Ministry Kenya. I would encourage other couples to attend marriage seminars.
What kind of support has he accorded you in your career?
He is a hands-on father and husband and he even helps in the house when necessary.
Being a lawyer, he knew that doctors sometimes work odd hours and many times he has driven me to hospitals at night and weekends to review patients.
What gives you the greatest fulfilment?
Every time a patient who had severe mental illness stabilises and is able to move on with his life I feel fulfilled.
Patients previously in a stupor recovering and going back to school or work and watching them graduate and excel in their careers.
Professionals and business people going back to work. Or mothers being able to go back home and take care of their families.
Sometimes I just want to join my patients as they celebrate the success journeys they have walked.
I am planning to write a book on those wonder stories.
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