HIV Cases Rise to 80 at Karachi's Kulsoom Bai Valika Hospital
Two more children have tested positive for HIV, bringing the total number of confirmed cases linked to Karachi’s Kulsoom Bai Valika Hospital to 80, it emerged on Saturday. The hospital is a Sindh Employees’ Social Security Institution (SESSI)-run health facility.
Among the latest cases is a three-year-old girl from the Metroville area. Her father stated that she received treatment for a chest infection at the hospital before testing positive for HIV. He added that her health condition continued to deteriorate after being treated there, and doctors advised medical tests that confirmed she was HIV-positive.
Government Response and Investigation
The development came days after Sindh Labour Minister Saeed Ghani confirmed that at least 78 children had been infected with HIV/AIDS at the hospital. The minister promised that the government would investigate the matter thoroughly and take strict action against all those found responsible.
Earlier this month, the Sindh High Court gave the provincial government two weeks to explain the HIV outbreak at the hospital. The orders came during a hearing on a petition claiming that 200 children had been affected due to staff negligence. The petitioner alleged that the reuse of contaminated syringes was the reason behind the outbreak in 2025.
Financial Support for Affected Children
The Sindh Labour minister described the HIV cases involving children at the SESSI-run Valika Hospital as a “serious issue”. On Wednesday, the Sindh Employees’ Social Security Institution allocated Rs2 billion to set up an endowment fund to provide long-term medical treatment and welfare support for the affected children.
