KARACHI: Seventeen children who received treatment at Kulsoom Bai Valika Social Security Hospital (Valika Hospital) in Karachi’s SITE area have reportedly tested positive for HIV/AIDS, while two children have died, according to community sources.
The outbreak has sparked outrage and fear among residents of Pathan Colony and adjacent localities. A five-member committee formed by local residents alleges that used syringes were repeatedly administered to multiple children, triggering the infections.
The affected children are between 18 months and six years old, and at least one woman admitted to the hospital’s general ward has also tested positive for HIV.
Hospital management, represented by its Medical Superintendent, Dr Mumtaz Sheikh, confirmed that eight cases are verified and suggested that some of the children might have parents already living with HIV. He noted that the hospital has referred several patients to Dr Ruth K.M. Pfau Civil Hospital Karachi and Abbasi Shaheed Hospital for advanced care.
Meanwhile, the Sindh AIDS Control Programme (SACP) Deputy Director, Dr Ghulam Ali, stated that screening and awareness teams have visited the hospital and affected communities. “We are conducting screening and awareness sessions in the area,” he said, adding that a full report will be ready within two to three days.
Community alarm and local response
Residents led by committee-vice-chairman Irshad (UC‑1 SITE Town) say the crisis surfaced in August 2025 when an 18-month-old girl was diagnosed with HIV at a private hospital after being treated at Valika Hospital. An informal probe by locals uncovered alleged reuse of syringes in the paediatric ward. The committee alleges negligence in infection control and demands urgent action.
Wider health-system concerns
Health experts say this incident echoes previous outbreaks in Sindh that were attributed to unsafe injection practices and inadequate supervision of healthcare facilities. The fact that the children’s parents tested negative for HIV raises serious concerns about transmission during or after treatment.
The episode has renewed scrutiny of public-sector healthcare delivery in vulnerable communities and highlights the critical need for strict hygiene standards and transparent responses when infection risks emerge.
