The number of confirmed HIV cases among children at Kulsoom Bai Valika Hospital in Karachi has increased to 16 after six more children tested positive, prompting authorities to intensify their response to the growing health crisis.
The latest figures were presented during a hearing chaired by Sindh Provincial Ombudsman Muhammad Sohail Rajput, who reviewed the hospital’s handling of the outbreak and ordered immediate measures to improve patient care and hospital management.
The hearing was attended by senior officials from the Sindh Labour Department, the Sindh Employees’ Social Security Institution (SESSI), hospital administrators, medical experts, and the parents of the affected children.
During the proceedings, officials confirmed that 16 children have so far been diagnosed with HIV, while expressing concern that additional cases could still emerge. Parents of the infected children voiced serious complaints against the hospital administration, alleging poor communication, inadequate medical support, shortages of essential medicines, delays in treatment-related payments, and an unsatisfactory attitude from hospital staff.
Expressing concern over the situation, the Ombudsman said healthcare services at the hospital require urgent improvement. He recommended appointing experienced healthcare professionals to senior positions and suggested temporarily assigning doctors from the Sindh Infectious Diseases Hospital to Valika Hospital for six months to strengthen treatment facilities.
He also directed the hospital to ensure an uninterrupted supply of medicines, nutritional supplements, and other essential medical equipment required for HIV patients.
According to the Ombudsman, the outbreak may be linked to administrative and financial shortcomings within the hospital, although investigations are still underway to determine the exact cause. To improve transparency, he ordered authorities to appoint an independent audit firm within two weeks to conduct a comprehensive review of the hospital’s financial and administrative operations.
The Ombudsman further instructed officials to support workers who lost their jobs while caring for infected children, provide compensation to families of deceased patients, and offer rehabilitation assistance to affected families. He also called for psychologists to provide counseling services and ordered a public awareness campaign explaining that HIV is manageable with early diagnosis and proper treatment while encouraging efforts to reduce stigma. A patient help desk will also be established at the hospital entrance as part of the new directives. The hearing was adjourned for two weeks, with authorities instructed to report progress on implementing these measures.
