Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Sindh Vice President Rizwan Niazi on Monday demanded an independent and transparent investigation into the reported HIV infections involving children at Karachi’s Valika Hospital and the Larkana ART Centre, calling for legal action against anyone found responsible.
In a statement, Niazi alleged that reports of more than 150 children contracting HIV at Valika Hospital due to alleged staff negligence, along with 73 children testing HIV-positive at the Larkana ART Centre during June, reflected what he described as serious administrative lapses, poor governance and criminal negligence within the Sindh Health Department and the provincial government.
He asserted that the provincial administration, despite being in power for the past 18 years, had failed to establish essential healthcare safeguards, including reliable blood transfusion systems, effective infection prevention measures, quality medical services, adequately trained healthcare personnel and proper institutional supervision.
According to Niazi, the reported HIV infections among children underscored what he termed the health system’s inability to discharge its fundamental responsibilities. He said strict implementation of infection control protocols, comprehensive blood screening and adherence to standard medical procedures could have prevented such cases.
The PTI leader urged authorities to identify all officials found responsible through an impartial inquiry and ensure they face legal proceedings in accordance with the law.
He also called on the government to provide comprehensive medical care to the affected children and to immediately reinforce infection control measures, safe blood screening procedures and monitoring systems across public and private healthcare facilities throughout Sindh to help prevent similar incidents in the future.