Children Hit Hard as Pakistan’s HIV Cases Skyrocket
1 min read
Pakistan’s healthcare meltdown is fueling a HIV crisis that’s infecting the innocent—children and everyday patients who trusted the system. Reports detail how basic safeguards have failed spectacularly.
Key factors include shattered infection controls and syringe recycling, defying the 2021 ban on reusables. This deadly combo has spawned outbreaks resembling artificial epidemics in key cities.
Hospitals in Larkana, Multan, Karachi, and Tanda are ground zero, with HIV linked directly to clinical procedures. Heartbreakingly, one-year-olds are among the victims, exposed during routine care.
Experts pinpoint unclean injections as the prime culprit, a fixable flaw ignored due to poor monitoring. Fake auto-disable syringes, slipped through lax regulation, add fuel to the fire, drawing ire from medical bodies.
Transparency gaps hinder response efforts. PIMS doctors highlight surging patient loads and pediatric infections as dire warnings, stressing that untested cases accelerate community spread.
Zubair Abdullah of the Aids Control Program sees hope in rising test numbers, attributing it to better outreach. Yet, ministry figures—189 positives since October 2025, 11 in early April—show men leading, followed by trans persons and alarming child stats.
To turn the corner, Pakistan needs ironclad syringe standards, vigilant supply audits, and stigma-busting campaigns. The clock is ticking on this preventable disaster.
