A laboratory assistant holds a test tube filled with an HIV positive blood sample. Photo: APP/file
According to hospital receipts seen by The express PAkGazette.
Last week, Sindh Labor Minister and chairman of Sindh Employees’ Social Security Institution (SESSI), Saeed Ghani, confirmed HIV infection in 78 children. The emergence of two new cases raised the count to at least 80.
talking to The express PAkGazetteThe father of a nine-year-old girl whose HIV infection was confirmed on Friday, said his three children had tested positive for the virus.
He said his three- and 12-year-old sons tested positive for HIV a few months ago, while his nine-year-old daughter has also been diagnosed with the virus.
The father said his daughter was admitted to the KBV hospital in late 2025 for treatment for a chest infection.
Read: SHC demands ‘comprehensive’ report from Sindh govt in 2 weeks on HIV outbreak at Karachi hospital
“As her condition worsened, doctors recommended an HIV test, which came back positive,” she lamented, adding that three of her children are now living with the disease, causing the entire family to live under immense emotional and psychological strain.
The second HIV case involved a three-year-old girl from Metroville Colony.
His father told him The express PAkGazette that his daughter also received treatment at KBV hospital before she was diagnosed HIV positive.
“My daughter underwent a series of medical tests before doctors recommended an HIV test,” he explained.
He said the little girl’s health worsened over time and she eventually tested positive for HIV.
The parents called for a thorough, transparent and impartial investigation into the incident and demanded strict legal action against those responsible.
Both parents also urged the authorities to immediately test all children receiving treatment at the KBV hospital for HIV so that infections can be identified without delay.
Read more: A 3-year-old boy tests positive for HIV
Residents of Zia Colony and Metroville Colony also expressed their concerns to The express PAkGazette as people depend on the government hospital run by SESSI for medical care.
On July 3, the Sindh High Court had directed the provincial government to submit a detailed report within a fortnight in response to a petition alleging that more than 200 children of industrial workers contracted HIV and nine died due to negligence at Karachi’s KBV Hospital.
Following public outcry, the governing body of SESSI on July 9 approved the establishment of an endowment fund of Rs 2,000 million for the treatment and welfare of children affected by HIV. The decision was taken during a budget meeting chaired by SESSI Chairman Saeed Ghani.
According to officials, the fund will be used to ensure quality medical treatment and support to affected children and their families, amid growing concern over HIV cases reported at Valika Hospital.
