Child HIV Outbreak in Pakistan: In a government hospital in Taunsa, Punjab province of Pakistan, 331 children became infected with the deadly disease HIV due to the use of reused syringes. This disease took the form of an epidemic. Its spread came to light when suddenly in the year 2024, Gul Kesarani, a doctor there, noticed an increase in the cases of HIV among children. One of these cases was related to a brother and sister. In this, eight year old Mohammad Amin died some time after being found infected with HIV. After this his sister was also found HIV positive.
This has been revealed in BBC’s investigative reporting. According to reports, basic medical hygiene was seriously violated in the Tehsil Headquarters Hospital of Taunsa. In such a situation, serious questions were raised on the health system of Pakistan.
According to the families of these victimized children, both of them were given contaminated injections during checkup in a government hospital. This caused HIV. Apart from this, when more information was gathered, many children became infected with HIV after treatment in this hospital.
Hospital’s negligence captured in secret camera
Secret cameras were installed at many places in this hospital. Violations of basic medical rules related to cleanliness were revealed in these cameras. Whatever was captured in the cameras, the only information that came out was that the same syringe was used on the vials of medicine containing multiple doses. A doctor, Dr. Altaf Ahmed, said that even though he has used a new needle, the virus is present in its back part, which we call the syringe body. Therefore, the virus will spread even after inserting a new needle.
According to BBC, the staff there including the doctor gave injections more than 66 times without sterile gloves. Apart from this, in one footage a nurse was cleaning medical waste without wearing gloves. Other scenes uncovered during the investigation revealed poor hygiene within the hospital, where medicine vials were lying open, used needles were left on counters, and medical waste was not being disposed of properly.
The parents of the children also confirmed the negligence of the hospital.
The parents of the victim children also claimed that they saw with their own eyes the medical facility being used in an unsafe manner. These also include using the same syringe repeatedly on multiple patients. Here, the hospital is denying this negligence. BBC also kept the footage, but the hospital management is not ready to accept its mistake.
The doctor in charge of the hospital rejected all the allegations outright.
Hospital in-charge Dr. Qasim Buzdar has said that the footage cannot be trusted. It may be old. It may be from before he became the head, it may also be fake. He also defended the hospital. Also said that it is safe for patients. Maintaining cleanliness and infection control there is the biggest priority right now.
Apart from this, a similar case has also been reported in Kulsoom Bai Walika Government Hospital, Karachi. Here, family members of a two-year-old girl told that they filled the medicine in a single syringe and administered it to the child. Filled it again. Implanted the second child. That girl also has HIV.
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