The National Department of Health (NDOH) Secretary, Dr. Osbourne Liko is making a call to the public to report health workers involved in harmful practices such as penile (penis) injection with oil to increase its size.
The NDOH through the Papua New Guinea (PNG) Nursing Council and Medical Board of PNG has said no health worker should be involved in such practices.
This call came about after revelations were made by doctors at a recent panel discussion on penile fibroma or ‘cobra head’ hosted by UNFPA in Port Moresby, which revealed that the number of men suffering from penile fibroma are rising rapidly and putting pressure on the health system in the country.
It was revealed that some health workers are charging between K200 to K300 to perform the penis injections with all sorts of oil on men.
He said that the PNG Nursing Council and Medical Board of PNG are the two regulatory bodies of the health sector in the country that have both condemned this illegal practice and have appealed to those who have information to report to the regulating bodies.
“The regulatory authorities have said that some health care workers are being paid to inject all types of oil into the penis of young men and boys in PNG.”
“Such practices are dangerous and harmful to their bodies.”
“The public must report any health care workers, such as nurses or community health workers who are performing the procedure to the PNG Nursing Council and Medical Board, so those who are responsible in causing harm to the males can be deregistered immediately according to the Medical Registration Act 1980.”
Those who have information can report to the PNG Nursing Council on email: nursing_council@health.gov.pg or call the landline 3013799; and the PNG medical Board on email florie_kaupueina@health.gov.pg or call its landline 3013813.