In a move to raise public health awareness, the 15th Chinese medical team in Papua New Guinea (PNG) recently launched a dedicated health education column in one of the country's largest newspapers, the Post-Courier. According to the team, this is the first time in 62 years of Chinese medical aid abroad that such a collaboration has been established.

The inaugural column coincides with Movember, the global movement of growing a mustache in November to raise awareness of prostate and testicular cancer. The column addresses the prevalent prostate health concerns among PNG's male population in response to the large gap in awareness and screening for prostate diseases.

Zhang Teng, the team's urology specialist, authored the column, highlighting the causes, early symptoms, screening methods, and preventive measures for prostate cancer. The article includes practical self-care tips, such as maintaining a healthy diet and regular exercise. It emphasizes the importance of seeking medical attention for blood in urine or semen, difficulty urinating, and lower back pain, to avoid missing optimal treatment opportunities.

"The establishment of this column is an innovative step by the 15th Chinese medical team towards deepening public health services in PNG," said the team leader Xu Wei. He added that the column would be updated monthly, covering content on "thoracic surgery, neurosurgery, gynecology, cardiology, neonatology, dentistry, and traditional Chinese medicine". Each issue will be authored by specialists from the team.

Chongqing first sent a team to PNG in July 2002. Entrusted by China's National Health Commission, it was the first Chinese medical team sent to the South Pacific region.

The ten-person 15th Chinese medical team, led by the Chongqing University Cancer Hospital, includes experts from several top-tier hospitals. They departed for PNG on Oct 13 to undertake a one-year medical mission at the Port Moresby General Hospital.