Families fight for justice after children contract HIV at a govt hospital in Karachi

 The families then proceeded to call for uninterrupted medical treatment for the affected children and demanded financial compensation from the authorities.

During the press conference, they said around 200 children had been diagnosed with HIV.

According to the details shared, some of the children were born at Kulsoom Bai Valika Hospital in SITE, a facility operated by the Sindh Employees' Social Security Institution (SESSI) under the labor department, while others had been admitted to the hospital for treatment of unrelated illnesses.

Accompanied by their legal counsel, Tariq Mansoor, the parents recounted the hardships they have endured since the incident.

Many said they continue to struggle to secure timely treatment for their surviving children while facing severe financial difficulties, fears of losing their livelihoods, and alleged pressure from certain quarters discouraging them from pursuing legal action.

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The families said they had spent months, from September to November last year, seeking justice but claimed the government had failed to provide any meaningful response or relief.

They questioned why their children had been forced to suffer such devastating consequences, saying their lives and futures had been shattered before they had the chance to fully experience childhood.

Speaking at the press conference, Owais, the father of an HIV-positive child, described the emotional and social toll on affected families.

He said they were forced to watch their children endure constant suffering while also facing sleepless nights, social isolation and widespread stigma. According to him, some families had broken apart, while several children were denied admission to schools after their HIV status became known.

The parents further alleged that the hospital withheld their children's medical records after news of the HIV outbreak emerged.

Muammar Khan recalled that hospital staff initially assured him his grandson had not contracted HIV. Unsatisfied, he sought a second test at Aga Khan University Hospital, where the child was diagnosed as HIV-positive. He said the confirmation left him devastated.

Families also highlighted the recurring health complications faced by the affected children, saying frequent illnesses had taken a heavy physical, emotional and financial toll.

Their lawyer, Advocate Tariq Mansoor, said most of the families survived on daily wages and struggled to meet treatment expenses. He alleged that many workers lost income whenever they took time off to care for their children and claimed some families had also been subjected to intimidation aimed at discouraging them from pursuing legal action.

Representing the families, Mansoor called for the inquiry into the outbreak to be completed without delay and its findings made public.

He said the Sindh Regulation and Control of Disposable Syringes Act, 2010, empowers only the provincial health secretary to register an FIR in such cases, but alleged that no such action had been taken despite the passage of several months. According to him, the delay had hampered efforts to hold those responsible for the alleged medical negligence accountable.

Mansoor further claimed there were attempts to conceal the incident, arguing that an independent investigation could implicate influential individuals.

He maintained that the outbreak resulted from the use of contaminated disposable syringes, despite laws prohibiting their manufacture, sale and use.

He said the legislation requires the exclusive use of auto-disable syringes, which cannot be reused and are designed to prevent the spread of infectious diseases.

The lawyer also criticized the provincial government for failing to frame the rules required to implement the 2010 law, saying this reflected a lack of commitment to patient safety.

He argued that despite billions of rupees being spent on hepatitis and HIV/AIDS programs with support from international donors, authorities had failed to effectively prevent such public health crises.

Responding to questions, Mansoor said he had approached several government institutions, including the Sindh Healthcare Commission, but claimed none had taken effective action. As a result, he said he had sought assistance from international organizations, including UNICEF and the International Labor Organization.

Questioning the government's response, he asked whether the affected families were being neglected because of their economic circumstances. He urged international organizations to press Pakistan to provide quality treatment for the children, either at Aga Khan University Hospital or, if necessary, abroad with a family member accompanying them.