A growing number of HIV infections among children in Pakistan’s port city of Karachi has raised serious public health concerns, with more than 100 cases reported across two hospitals within a matter of months. The surge has intensified scrutiny of the country’s healthcare system and infection-control measures, while leaving many parents deeply anxious.
According to local media reports, at least 15 children have recently tested positive for HIV at the Social Security Landhi Hospital in Karachi. The affected children are between four months and eight years old.
Hospital records indicate that four cases were detected in January, two in February, one in March, five in April, and three in May this year.
Sources familiar with the matter said the cases were not made public for several months, raising concerns that additional infections may have occurred during that period. Pakistan’s health authorities have yet to release comprehensive data on the actual scale of the outbreak.
Earlier, nearly 100 children were diagnosed with HIV at Kulsum Bai Valika Hospital, also in Karachi. Local media reports said at least nine of those children have died. The emergence of similar cases at two hospitals has further heightened fears among parents and the wider public.
Health experts and local observers say social stigma, misconceptions surrounding HIV, and fear of discrimination have discouraged many families from disclosing their children’s diagnoses. They warn that this reluctance may hinder timely treatment and limit access to essential medical and social support.
In an emotional message shared on social media, the father of one infected child said he could not afford the costly medication required for his child’s treatment and appealed to the government for urgent financial and medical assistance.
Despite the growing concern, Pakistan’s health authorities have not yet issued an official statement addressing the reported cases. Questions remain over the source of the infections, whether they may be linked to failures in healthcare practices, and whether a formal investigation has been launched.
Source: Local media reports.