Following two suspected cases of whooping cough in Sanma Province, the Medical Superintendent of the Northern Provincial Hospital (NPH), Dr. Mark Kalpukai, has urged the public to respect hospital areas.

Dr. Kalpukai made the call after the hospital received two suspected whooping cough cases this month, October.

He said it is unhealthy for people to use the hospital area as a park or gathering place.

Dr. Kalpukai emphasized that personal hygiene is a key practice, and the public must continue to follow preventive measures that were introduced during the COVID-19 period.

He further stated that children who are not sick should not visit the hospital.

Dr. Kalpukai:
“My advice is to restrict kids from coming to the hospital because we know it is a place for both healing and sickness. Right now, we have whooping cough, so we don’t encourage kids to come to the hospital.”

Dr. Kalpukai explained that pertussis, or whooping cough, spreads quickly through droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes.

He is urging the public to stay safe and help prevent the spread of whooping cough in Sanma Province.