A significant increase in pediatric HIV cases has been observed at three hospitals in Karachi, Pakistan, over the past nine months, with numbers continuing to rise. The Sindh Infectious Diseases Hospital and Research Centre (SIDH&RC) saw a rise from 10 HIV-positive children in 2024 to over 70 in 2025. Similarly, the Indus Hospital reported 144 HIV-positive patients in 2024, increasing to 174 in 2025, with 69 cases in the first quarter of this year.
Dr. Samreen Sarfaraz, Chair of Infection Control Services at the Indus Hospital, expressed concern over the surge in pediatric cases, noting that since August 2025, 72 children under 14 years, mostly under five years old, have been registered. The primary reason cited for the rise in cases is unsafe healthcare practices, such as the reuse of contaminated medical equipment and unscreened blood transfusions.
Dr. Sarfaraz highlighted that the preference for drips and injections over oral medications by some doctors in the public sector, along with the suspension of USAID funding, has led to shortages of essential drugs in Pakistan. She emphasized the urgent need for strict measures to address malpractices, enforce safety protocols, and ensure adequate drug supplies to combat the growing HIV epidemic in Pakistan.
