At least 78 children have been confirmed to have contracted HIV at Karachi’s Kulsoom Bai Valika Hospital, prompting the Sindh government to pledge a thorough investigation, strict accountability and comprehensive medical care for all those affected.
Speaking to the media on Saturday, Sindh Labour Minister Saeed Ghani described the outbreak at the Sindh Employees’ Social Security Institution (SESSI)-run hospital in Karachi’s SITE area as a “serious issue” and assured families that the provincial government will not leave them to face the crisis alone.
“We will ensure their complete medical treatment and provide every possible support,” Ghani said. He added that anyone found responsible for negligence, including édoctors, paramedical staff or administrative officials, would face strict action.
The minister’s remarks came days after the Sindh High Court directed the provincial government to submit an explanation within two weeks regarding the HIV outbreak at the hospital.
The case was brought before the court by petitioner Tariq Mansoor, who alleged that nearly 200 children had contracted HIV due to the reuse of contaminated syringes. He sought an independent inquiry, registration of a criminal case, lifelong medical treatment and appropriate compensation for the affected children.
However, Ghani said official records had so far confirmed 78 infected children. He noted that some parents had not appeared before the inquiry committee, making it difficult to verify the total number of cases claimed in the petition.
According to the minister, he took charge of the Labour Department in September 2025, while reports of the HIV infections surfaced the following month. He said a fact-finding inquiry committee was established on October 29, 2025, and several officials were suspended after its initial findings. Following a petition before the provincial ombudsman on November 7, 2025, a second inquiry committee was also constituted to carry out a more detailed investigation.
Ghani rejected allegations that the outbreak resulted from the reuse of contaminated syringes, stating that the hospital uses auto-disable syringes, which cannot be reused. Nevertheless, he acknowledged that there had been negligence somewhere in the system and said the inquiry committee had submitted its recommendations.
He reiterated that compensation alone could not undo the suffering of the affected children and their families, stressing that the Sindh government would ensure lifelong medical treatment, continued support and accountability for those responsible.
