KARACHI — Victims and families affected by the shocking HIV outbreak at Valika Hospital in the SITE Area staged a powerful protest outside the Sindh High Court (SHC), demanding accountability, justice, and immediate medical support following a recent court hearing. The crisis initially came to light in November last year when fifteen children tested positive for HIV following treatment at the facility, and the nightmare has further intensified with another child testing positive just days ago, confirming that the threat remains active due to severe institutional negligence. Advocate Tariq Mansoor has termed the practice a heinous crime, pointing directly to the catastrophic reuse of medical syringes as the primary cause of this outbreak, which has led the SHC to formally seek responses from the Health Secretary and other relevant authorities.
Beyond the devastating physical ailment, these families are now fighting a brutal battle against severe social ostracization, with heartbroken parents sharing the painful reality that neighbors forcefully pull their own children away, leaving the infected minors socially isolated and deeply traumatized. As the legal battle unfolds, the victims are demanding rigorous criminal action against the responsible perpetrators and state-funded quality healthcare for the affected children. This tragic case highlights a critical failure in healthcare regulation and public safety, making it a state responsibility to step in immediately, ensure justice through the courts, and implement strict medical protocols to guarantee that such a humanitarian tragedy never repeats.
