Court Seeks Government Reply Within Two Weeks
The Sindh High Court has directed the Sindh government to submit a detailed report on the alleged HIV outbreak linked to Valika Hospital in Karachi.
The order was issued by the constitutional bench during the hearing of a petition on Thursday.
The petition seeks action over the spread of HIV among children who reportedly received treatment at the Sindh government-run Kulsum Bai Valika Social Security SITE Hospital.
The court directed the authorities to submit their response within two weeks.
A large number of HIV-positive children and their parents were present in the courtroom during the hearing.
The case has raised serious questions about hospital safety, infection control, and government oversight.
Petitioners Allege Syringe Reuse Caused Infections
The petitioners’ lawyer accused the Sindh government of serious negligence.
He argued that contaminated syringes were allegedly reused at Valika Hospital. He said this resulted in hundreds of children being exposed to HIV.
The counsel told the court that nine children had died. He also said many others had contracted the virus.
He added that eight months had passed since the reported deaths, but no meaningful action had been taken.
The lawyer said an inquiry had been started after a legal notice. However, its findings were neither submitted before the court nor shared with affected families.
He also informed the bench that international organisations, including UNICEF, had expressed concern over the situation.
The petition also stated that FIRs had not been registered over the deaths of the children.
The petitioners urged the court to intervene quickly, warning that more children could be at risk if action was delayed.
HIV Cases Linked to Hospital Rise to 107
The hearing came a day after a three-year-old girl from Orangi Town tested positive for HIV.
Her family said the infection was confirmed through three separate laboratory tests. These included Rapid Detect, Uni-Gold, and HIV Combo tests.
The family said the child had received treatment at Valika Hospital before developing health complications.
Health authorities say 107 children from Orangi Town have now tested positive for HIV.
The death toll among infected children in Zia Colony has reportedly reached nine.
Several families allege that hospital staff reused syringes on multiple children.
In February, Federal Minister for National Health Services Syed Mustafa Kamal said the outbreak was caused by the reuse of contaminated syringes at Valika Hospital.
He later told the National Assembly that the government had banned five types of syringes after a rise in HIV/AIDS cases across Pakistan.
The court has adjourned the hearing until July 20 and issued notices to all respondents.
