KARACHI (April 18, 2026) — Medical experts in Karachi have raised an urgent red alert following a significant spike in paediatric HIV cases across three major hospitals. Data indicates that at least 159 children have been admitted this year alone, with the majority of infections linked to “unsafe healthcare practices” rather than mother-to-child transmission.
The Growing Crisis
- Indus Hospital reported 69 cases in the first quarter of 2026; Sindh Infectious Diseases Hospital (SIDH&RC) has seen cases rise from 10 in 2024 to 30 already this year.
- 72% of cases are attributed to healthcare-related transmission (reused syringes, contaminated drips, and unscreened blood).
- 68% of newly registered children at Indus Hospital are under five years of age.
- Essential antiretroviral and anti-tuberculosis (TB) medications are in short supply following the suspension of USAID funding.
Paediatric HIV cases rise in Karachi as hospitals report increasing infections over the past nine months.
Health experts have warned that the trend signals a deepening public health challenge linked largely to unsafe medical practices.
Official figures shared by sources show a… pic.twitter.com/wrCrLhEBGf
— Bloom Pakistan (@bloom_pakistan) April 18, 2026
Systemic failures and “forgotten lessons”
Dr. Samreen Sarfaraz, Consultant Infectious Diseases at Indus Hospital, warned that the lessons from the 2019 Ratodero outbreak—one of the world’s largest paediatric HIV outbreaks—have been ignored. She highlighted a “rampant” lack of infection control, noting that many healthcare providers still prefer injections and intravenous drips over oral medication for commercial reasons, often reusing medical equipment on multiple patients.
Interior Sindh: A secondary front
Beyond Karachi, a major tertiary care children’s hospital reported that over 60 children, mostly from Thatta and other interior parts of Sindh, tested positive during pre-surgery screenings. Investigation revealed that most of these children had a history of receiving multiple intramuscular injections over the past year, further pointing toward a collapse in sterile medical protocols in rural areas.
Critical treatment challenges
The crisis is compounded by a lack of specialized care. Children are often brought to hospitals in advanced stages of immunodeficiency with opportunistic infections like TB.
Specialist Gap: There is a severe shortage of paediatric infectious disease experts trained to manage complicated HIV cases.
Drug Crisis: The suspension of international funding has led to a depletion of life-saving drugs, raising fears of the spread of drug-resistant strains.
Official response
While some health department officials dismissed the reports as “exaggerated,” claiming the rise in numbers actually proves an “improved surveillance system,” others admit to regulatory failures. The CDC (Centre for Communicable Diseases) shifted the burden of responsibility to the Sindh Healthcare Commission and the Sindh Blood Transfusion Authority, citing their failure to curb quackery and enforce blood safety.
Call for Action
Medical professionals are demanding the immediate enforcement of the National Action Plan for Injection Safety 2019. Experts warn that Pakistan now has the fastest-growing HIV epidemic in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean region and that without strict disciplinary action against the reuse of syringes and cannulas, the country’s youth remain at extreme risk.
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