Home / Health / Syringe Reuse Fuels Child HIV Crisis in Pakistan
Syringe Reuse Fuels Child HIV Crisis in Pakistan
5 Jul
Summary
- Over 350,000 people live with HIV in Pakistan.
- Over 200 children affected by hospital HIV outbreak.
- Laws exist but are poorly implemented; accountability is missing.
Pakistan is grappling with a severe HIV crisis, with more than 350,000 individuals currently living with the virus. A shocking development has seen children and low-risk individuals contracting HIV through the healthcare system itself.
The Sindh High Court is investigating an HIV eruption at Karachi's Kulsoom Bai Valika Hospital, which occurred in November. This incident, attributed to the reuse of infected syringes and medical negligence, impacted over 200 children and led to several fatalities.
Two critical failures have driven this "man-made epidemic": a deficient infection control framework and the continued reuse of syringes, despite a ban on conventional disposable syringes since 2021. Similar outbreaks have become disturbingly frequent in Karachi, Larkana, Multan, and Taunsa, with some cases involving infants diagnosed after clinic visits.
Despite existing legislation like the Sindh Regulation and Control of Disposable Syringes Act, 2010, its poor implementation and lack of accountability are major concerns. The national response has included Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif imposing a ban on substandard syringes to curb the spread of infections.
Concerns persist regarding compliance and the need for comprehensive infection control measures, including sterilization, screened blood, single-use syringes, skilled staff, and disease monitoring. Over the past two decades, HIV infections have surged by nearly 200%.
