Hundreds of children in Ratodero, Sindh province, tested positive for HIV in 2019, with the majority having HIV-negative parents. Dr. Imran Arbani noted that repeated clinic visits and multiple injections in their medical histories suggested transmission within medical settings. By 2021, the number of infected children had climbed to 1,500, and new infections continue to be reported.
An undercover investigation by BBC News has revealed alarming infection control failures at a Pakistani government hospital, where staff were filmed reusing syringes on children. This potentially dangerous practice, involving the use of the same syringe for multiple patients and drawing from multi-dose vials for subsequent administrations, poses a significant risk of spreading infections. Experts warn that such measures could be a contributing factor to a rise in HIV cases, citing the tragic death of an eight-year-old boy, Mohammed Amin, who tested positive for HIV shortly before his passing. Despite the compelling evidence, hospital authorities have denied misconduct, with the medical superintendent questioning the footage’s authenticity and asserting their commitment to infection control.
John Q. Hosedrinker