Home / Health / Pakistan's HIV Crisis: Healthcare Fuels Epidemic
Pakistan's HIV Crisis: Healthcare Fuels Epidemic
19 Apr
Summary
- AIDS deaths rose 6.4-fold to 14,000 annually between 2010-2024.
- Healthcare practices like syringe reuse are driving HIV outbreaks.
- Over 2,000 new HIV cases were diagnosed in Larkana.
Health experts are raising serious alarms over escalating HIV/AIDS and Mpox outbreaks in Pakistan, directly linked to healthcare settings. Since 2019, multiple HIV outbreaks have been attributed to critical system gaps, including the widespread reuse of disposable syringes. This practice has led to a significant increase in AIDS-related deaths, which rose 6.4-fold from 2,200 to 14,000 annually between 2010 and 2024.
Recent outbreaks have particularly affected children, with over 2,000 new HIV diagnoses reported in Larkana alone by the end of 2024. Many of these cases involved young children with no history of mother-to-child transmission, strongly suggesting infection through unsafe medical injections and practices. The healthcare system's challenges, including understaffing and a preference for injections, exacerbate the situation.
The HIV landscape has shifted, with outbreaks now occurring in the general population, not just high-risk groups. Despite the alarming trajectory, diagnostic and treatment coverage remains critically low. The overuse of injections, poor infection control, and inadequate regulation create a fertile ground for infections to amplify, posing a grave threat to public health.
