Pakistan’s pediatric HIV outbreaks persist as unsafe medical practices spark new infections

In August 2025, Ayesha Aftab brought three of her children to Karachi’s Kulsoom Bai Valika Hospital, where after receiving routine injections they were diagnosed with HIV. Dozens of other parents report similar infections at the same facility, with at least six children later dying, and the pattern recalls the 2019 Larkana outbreak that infected 494 children due to syringe reuse. A separate Punjab district, Taunsa, saw 331 pediatric cases between November 2024 and October 2025, prompting additional government pledges.

Government inquiries have identified unsafe syringe and IV needle handling at Valika Hospital, leading to staff suspensions and promised financial compensation, yet experts argue that deeper systemic flaws—persistent unsafe injection habits, unregulated blood donation, and reliance on informally trained providers—remain unaddressed. Pediatric infectious-disease specialists warn that these “bridging events” allow HIV to move from high-risk groups into the general population, while weak disease surveillance masks the true burden. Families of infected children face lifelong medication, discrimination, and barriers to education and care, underscoring the urgent need for comprehensive infection-prevention reforms.