A PRIVATE medical practitioner has issued a strong warning to male youths against injecting their private part with foreign objects which may cause significant complication and damage.
This came after he attended to more than ten teenagers in Noro, Western Province who have suffered severe health complications after injecting baby oil and other foreign substances into their private part.
The situation was described as an alarming trend driven by misinformation and peer pressure.
Dr. Hendrick Kaniki Kuboto, Director of GP Private Clinic in Noro, confirmed to the Solomon Star in an interview that his clinic has treated multiple cases of penile enlargement procedures gone wrong—many of them self-administered or performed by untrained individuals.
“These procedures often involve injecting baby oil, silicone, or other foreign substances directly into the penis,” Dr. Kaniki explained.
Due to late treatment, it causes more infection and damage.
“We are seeing painful swelling, infections, and tissue damage. In severe cases, patients face permanent disfigurement—and in the worst-case scenarios, amputation,” he added.
Dr. Kaniki said, the practice has existed for some time, but the significant increasing cases came to light since opening his clinic in Noro this year after some of the affected youths sought medical attention.
“The rise in such cases is very concerning. It reflects a serious lack of awareness about the risks involved.
“These are not being done by health professionals—they have no understanding of male anatomy or the dangers of what they’re doing,” he said.
He noted that embarrassment often causes victims to delay seeking treatment, worsening their condition by the time they arrive at the clinic.
“Some of the more severe cases had to be referred to the National Referral Hospital (NRH) in Honiara,” he added.
Dr. Kaniki said, peer pressure plays a major role, as young men are influenced by friends or social circles that promote the procedure as a way to enhance sexual performance or boost self-confidence—despite lacking any scientific or medical basis.
“Many don’t realize that substances like baby oil and silicone block blood flow, which is essential for normal erectile function,” he explained.
“They only see temporary enlargement but ignore the long-term damage,” he added.
He warned that once the damage becomes irreversible, the only medical solution left is often partial or full amputation of penis.
Community leaders, parents, and educators are now being urged to openly address the issue with young men, raising awareness about self-esteem, body image, and the life-threatening dangers of unregulated body modifications.
This disturbing trend mirrors similar reports from Honiara and other provinces in recent years, prompting calls for a national awareness campaign to educate the public on the dangers of unsafe health practices.
Health authorities strongly urge anyone experiencing complications from such procedures to seek immediate medical attention.
By ULUTAH GINA
Solomon Star, Gizo
