LETTER TO PARENTS – PENILE INJECTION – DIOCESE OF BEREINA

Dear Parents,

I am writing to inform you of a disturbing trend that has recently been uncovered in our schools, concerning male students having their penises injected with baby oil or cooking oil for penis enlargement.

This appears to be new development sweeping through nearly all of our village communities over the last 2 years, following on from the more well-known practices amongst village boys of partial circumcision and penile insertion with beads and other objects. These practices originated in the settlements of Port Moresby, they were then introduced to the villages, and eventually they have found their way into our schools. The ideas being promoted by this sort of activity are based on misinformation, and they feed on adolescent immaturity, sexual fantasy, and peer pressure. This sort of penile self-mutilation is associated with rascal gang activity and cultic practice, whereby boys have this done to their penis so they can foolishly pursue the promise of heightened sexual enjoyment with different partners, while having little regard for the harm caused to the girls concerned (at worst rape). Needless to say, such ideas and practices are contrary to a Christian way of life, and the sort of character we are trying to form in our schools. We don’t need such persons in our schools.

This latest practice of injecting an oil substance into the penis for penis enlargement is a very dangerous activity, leading to all sorts of health complications and even death in the not too distant future if it remains untreated.

What happens when the substance is injected into the penis? The substance is usually injected into the outer layer of skin (areolar tissue) which surrounds the actual shaft of the penis. The shaft of the penis is that tissue which contains the blood vessels and spongy tissue to enable erection, the nerves that make sex pleasurable, and the urethra which is the canal for urinary function. Because it is a foreign substance to the body, the body mounts a natural defence against it and as it does it causes scarring and an uncontrolled growth of the areolar tissue which surrounds the shaft of the penis. So while the surrounding areolar tissue may increase in size, the actual shaft of the penis usually remains the same and may even shrink as the abnormal overgrown areolar tissue compresses into it. The effects are devastating!

•  The growth of the areolar tissue is uncontrolled, which means it can continue to grow and become dysfigured to the point that one can no longer use it for normal human sexual activity.
•  It can become extremely painful during sex and even without sex.
• The nerves that make sex pleasurable are damaged by the abnormal growth and scar tissue making sex almost impossible to enjoy.
• The compression on the shaft of the penis causes erectile, circulatory and urinary dysfunction.
• If the injection is done under unsterile conditions the penis can become very infected with bacterial growth. Causing complications such as swelling of the glands, fever and fatigue.
• Sometimes the person injecting the substance injects it too deep into the shaft of the penis and this leads to scarring of the penile shaft itself causing a devastating and painful condition called pyroneus disease.
• If this condition remains untreated it can develop into a rotting of the penis, cancer, causing death. This condition can only be corrected by surgery, whereby the infected outer layer of skin on the penis is surgically removed.

The earlier this corrective surgery is done the better the outcome. The simple message to boys is to be happy with what God has given you (to be used as God intended) and do not fall for anyone trying to con you into having this done. In this matter parents, especially fathers need to be vigilant in caring for the welfare of their sons and be mindful of the influences out there in the community that can easily pull them into trouble. To give you some idea of the extent of this problem now in our schools, a medical examination of all the boys at Sacred Heart – Tapini revealed 30%+ of the male student population with this condition.

A similar examination of students at Mainohana revealed 20-30% of the male student population with the same condition, with cases more severe than what was uncovered at Sacred Heart. Medical checks on male students at primary schools in the Tapini area has also revealed an alarming statistic for students in grades 4,5 and 6 approaching 80% of the male student population in the upper grades. I point out that what we are seeing here is a recent phenomena, which was unknown of just 2-3 years ago. And what we are seeing in our schools is a reflection of a much bigger number of unschooled youths in the village with this condition.

This is a major health problem affecting all our communities. I am told by doctors who have been treating this problem, that it is now a problem which is widespread across the country. The silence and lack of public awareness about this problem needs to be addressed. The Diocese of Bereina, through its health, education, and pastoral services is committed to addressing this issue. Our Diocesan Education Board has therefore endorsed the following policy for enrolment into our schools next year (2018):

1. All male students enrolling at Mainohana and Sacred Heart next year (2018) will be required to undergo a medical examination by a nursing officer at the school clinic at the time of enrolment. Enrolment will not proceed if the student does not have a medical clearance for this condition. Students found to have this condition will be given advice as to where it can be corrected by surgery, and advised not to come back until this is done. NO STUDENT WILL BE PERMITTED TO ENROL WITHOUT A MEDICAL CLEARANCE FOR THIS CONDITION.
2. The Diocese of Bereina has an arrangement with St Mary’s Medical Centre, Boroko to provide surgery for boys who are referred to it by our Health Services. The cost for the medical procedure is discounted, and part of this cost is covered by the diocese. Parents are required to pay K400 for this procedure, which is around 50% of the normal cost. Payment is made to the school as an additional charge. Already students currently enrolled at Mainohana and Sacred Heart with this condition have been billed for this amount, with these students to be attended to at St Mary’s during December – January period
3. A medical examination of all male students at our main centre primary schools will be conducted at enrolment next year, and at smaller schools throughout term 1. Students found to have this condition will be required to have it corrected before being permitted to continue in the school.
4. Instances of this practice of injecting oil into the penis have been taking place within our schools, in the playground and dormitories. Instigated by a student who does the injection of other boys with the same needle, which is usually a used needle in the first place. There have been instances at one school were a student has been injecting small boys in lower grades, who really have no idea of what is happening to them at the hands of the bigger boy doing this, and causing serious damage to the health of these little ones. Students interfering with another student like this in the school is a criminal matter, and they will be referred to the police by the school authority. Such activity is an expellable offence.

The resources of our Diocesan Health Services are being utilised to help deal with thisproblem. Provincial/National Government Health and Education authorities have beenalerted. It is a social problem requiring every effort now on the part of community leaders, village elders, and parents to do their part in warning their sons and to promote a public awareness about the dangers of such activity.

Yours faithfully,
Fr Brian Cahill msc,EV
Vicar for Education
Chair – Diocesan Education Board
Chair – Diocesan Health Board