• Local political activists put their heads together after first case of infection confirmed in 18-month-old girl
• Over 15 HIV cases found after Valika Hospital administration persuaded to screen children treated there
• Govt official says health dept ‘focusing’ on treatment and prevention
KARACHI: A serious health crisis, involving children as young as one year, is brewing in the impoverished and densely-populated neighbourhood of SITE Town where more than 15 children have been diagnosed with HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) over the past few weeks with at least two fatalities during the same period while the number of the affected children is still rising.
At the centre of the crisis is the Kulsum Bai Valika Social Security SITE Hospital, commonly known as Valika Hospital, in SITE Town, where the children treated for different health complaints over the past few months have been diagnosed with HIV.
It all emerged recently when people of the neighbourhood with the help of their local government representatives and political leadership of the locality took a solid stand when they learnt about the dark reality.
“In August 2025, an 18-month-old girl fell ill. She was admitted to the Valika Hospital,” said Irshad Khan, vice chairman of SITE Town’s UC-1, which comprises Pathan Colony and Bawani Chali areas.
“However, her weakness and fever persisted, after which she was taken to a private hospital. Doctors at the private hospital suspected that the child might have some other serious issue. They conducted several tests, after which she was diagnosed with HIV. When the private hospital doctors inquired about the child’s prior treatment, they were informed that she had earlier been treated at the Valika Hospital. It rang alarm bells. We set up a five-member committee on our own comprising leaders of all political parties working of the area — the Jamaat-i-Islami, PPP and ANP.”
The committee led by Mr Khan — who himself belonged to the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf — has since been aggressively pursuing the management of the Valika Hospital to conduct screening of those children of the UC who have been treated at the facility over the past few months. It was found that at least 18 of them were HIV-positive.
“But the problem is that despite severity of the issue, we don’t see any seriousness and urgency in the hospital management while the health department seems least bothered about it,” he said.
“We [the committee members] visit the hospital almost daily, but hardly anyone responds. We want every child, at least those who have been treated here since August 2025, to be screened. Currently dozens of children have gone through tests and 18 of them have been diagnosed with HIV. They are aged between one to nine years. On the other hand, hundreds of children are still there roaming in streets, living in houses or going to schools in the impoverished locality. This revelation could only be the tip of the iceberg. We need to take this situation seriously and devise an urgent and aggressive strategy. But authorities are not cooperating.”
Authorities respond
Responding to Dawn queries, an official at the Valika Hospital confirmed that screening for AIDS was underway at the facility while some children had been found to be HIV-positive. However, the officer did not disclose the exact number of affected children.
The government authorities, however, have rejected any such adverse impression.
Dr Kanwal Mustafa, Additional Director HIV/AIDS, Communicable Disease Control (CDC), Sindh Health Department, claimed that her institution responded immediately and set up an anti-retroviral therapy (ART) centre at the same health facility under the question.
“We are further expanding access to HIV treatment and care services in that area,” she added.
Other than recent reported cases at the Valika Hospital, she claimed that a “comprehensive approach” was being taken by the health department, CDC-1 HIV/AIDS Sindh, to tackle HIV/AIDS, focusing on both treatment and prevention.
A total of 31 ART centres have been established across Sindh, offering free counselling, diagnostics and prophylaxis services to HIV-positive individuals, including pregnant women and their children, she added.
When asked about the possible cause of the recent outbreak among the children who were treated at the Valika Hospital, she said “facts and data are still being analysed”.
She referred to common practices that usually cause such viruses to spread.
“HIV transmission in Pakistan, whether urban or rural, is a complex issue driven by several factors,” said Dr Kanwal. “Unlicensed practitioners reusing syringes and IV drips play a major role in the spread of the virus. Unregulated blood banks further exacerbate the issue, while widespread illiteracy and poverty create an environment conducive to the transmission of viruses.”
Despite the risks associated with injections, many Pakistanis believe that injections offer a quick relief, driving their widespread use, she added.
“Quackery in our society and high-risk behaviour among drug users compound the problem. Pakistan’s high anaemia prevalence among children under five also increases the likelihood of blood transfusions, heightening the risk of HIV acquisition,” she said.
The government-led investigations may take time to uncover the truth behind the recent HIV outbreak among children of SITE Town, but Vice Chairman of the UC Irshad Khan’s personal observations paint a dangerous scenario.
“During our recent visits to the Valika Hospital, we ourselves repeatedly witnessed the reuse of used syringes,” he revealed his shocking observation.
“Many staff members also confirmed this practice. I am shocked at how something like this is even possible at a government hospital. I’m not an expert, but I am certain that, among many other factors, this could be one of the reasons why HIV has spread among the children being treated there.”
Published in Dawn, November 17th, 2025.
