Pakistani health authorities have expressed their concern regarding the alarming number of HIV-positive children who have been identified within a span of 15 months. As per official figures, there are more than 2,000 children infected with HIV.
To be specific, 2,108 children have been found to be HIV positive, consisting of 1,274 males and 834 females. Furthermore, among all other provinces, Sindh has been found to be the worst hit, with 1,515 cases. Of these, 1,186 cases occurred in 2025, while 329 cases came to light during the early days of 2026. The other regions include Punjab, where 418 cases have been recorded, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where 111 cases have been reported.
Growing concerns over healthcare safety practices
The health sector states that this increase is more than a mere increase in figures; there are many underlying factors contributing to this problem. It highlights unsafe medical practices, including the use of contaminated syringes. The government emphasizes that children, who rely heavily on treatment, are very susceptible to this issue.
Moreover, Mustafa Kamal, presented information to parliamentarians stating that the prevalence rate of individuals with HIV/AIDS in the country is lower than anticipated. He revealed that thousands of children were affected by the disease due to a private hospital’s medical misconduct in Karachi.
Urgent need for prevention and awareness
According to experts, prevention has become essential. Proper screening, strict measures concerning clinic regulation, and large-scale awareness programs can go a long way in curbing the transmission of the disease. On the other hand, parents must have correct knowledge about the health of their children.
