Why is Pakistan’s Sindh province facing a major child HIV outbreak? | HIV/AIDS News
Islamabad, Pakistan – A recent outbreak of HIV at Kulsum Bai Valika (KBV) Hospital in Karachi has led to at least 130 confirmed cases, the majority of which involve children. Authorities report a significant increase in cases in recent weeks, with Health Minister Saeed Ghani stating that over 10,500 individuals were screened in the area, resulting in 120 positive tests at this government-run facility.
In a screening initiative at another SESSI-operated facility in the Landhi area, an additional 10 cases were identified. The Sindh Employees’ Social Security Institution (SESSI) provides healthcare and financial support to workers and their families across Sindh.
The outbreak at KBV Hospital first garnered attention in November 2025 when local residents noted a cluster of infections among treated children. However, health officials traced the initial cases back to October 2025, when six HIV-positive cases were reported to the provincial health department.
On July 14, Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah received reports from internal inquiries indicating serious lapses in infection control protocols, including inadequate protective equipment and improper handling of single-use syringes. The first inquiry, submitted in November 2025, found 16 HIV-positive children connected to the hospital’s pediatric department. A subsequent comprehensive inquiry revealed 78 infections and six deaths, attributing responsibility to hospital staff for administrative failures.
Minister Ghani confirmed that all cases had been traced to exposure before October 2025 and stated that screening would continue amid concerns about potential new infections. Thirty-seven medical personnel received show-cause notices on July 3 and were given 14 days to respond. Ghani expressed his readiness to resign if it would help address the crisis.
In response to questions regarding the causes of the outbreak, Ghani stated on July 4 that the infections were not linked to reused syringes, asserting that KBV Hospital employs auto-disable syringes designed for single use. However, official reports suggest systemic failures in infection prevention, raising concerns about the accuracy of reported figures regarding the HIV outbreak.
This incident is not isolated; last December, the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNAIDS described Pakistan’s HIV crisis as one of the fastest-growing epidemics in the region, noting an alarming rise in annual infections. By 2024, infections had increased from 16,000 in 2010 to 48,000, with children aged 0 to 14 accounting for a significant proportion.
Only 38 percent of children living with HIV are receiving treatment, and just 14 percent of pregnant women needing therapy to prevent mother-to-child transmission are getting it. Experts have indicated that underlying issues in Pakistan’s healthcare practices, including numerous outbreaks linked to unsafe medical practices, exacerbate the situation.
The Sindh High Court has mandated a response from the provincial government by July 20 regarding allegations of violations related to syringe regulations. Concurrently, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has ordered a ban on substandard syringes, with the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan planning to prohibit retail sales of reusable syringes by January 2027.
As part of a long-term strategy, the Sindh government has established a 2 billion-rupee ($7.2 million) fund to support affected children, alongside an isolation ward and an external audit of KBV Hospital’s infection control procedures.
Experts caution, however, that measures targeting syringe usage address only some of the systemic issues in Pakistan’s healthcare environment, where approximately 60 percent of services are provided by the private sector, which is challenging to regulate effectively. The pervasive culture of unsafe injection practices, driven by both patient expectations and inadequate training, continues to pose significant public health risks.
