HIV Screening Expanded Across Sindh Government Hospitals After New Cases

HIV Screening Expanded Across Sindh Government Hospitals After New Cases

KARACHI: HIV screening has been expanded across hospitals operated by the Sindh Employees’ Social Security Institution (SESSI) following the detection of new HIV-positive cases linked to screening activities around two healthcare facilities in Karachi. Health authorities say the wider testing campaign is aimed at identifying infections early, strengthening disease surveillance, and reviewing previous patient records where necessary.

According to SESSI Commissioner Hadi Baksh Kalhoro, the institution has broadened HIV screening beyond selected groups to include outpatients, admitted patients, and children visiting SESSI-run hospitals. Officials are also reviewing records of patients treated since January 2025 to determine whether any HIV-positive cases may require further investigation.

HIV Screening Expanded Across SESSI Hospitals

SESSI officials said the screening programme has been intensified across all hospitals under the institution’s administration.

Kalhoro said healthcare teams are compiling records of every outpatient and admitted patient who received treatment at SESSI hospitals from January 2025 onward. If any individual treated during that period is later confirmed to be HIV-positive, authorities plan to examine the circumstances surrounding the infection.

The review aims to determine whether the infection was acquired through unrelated factors or whether there is any evidence suggesting responsibility within the healthcare setting. Officials have not announced any findings or confirmed any link between hospital treatment and HIV transmission. The review remains part of an ongoing investigation.

Infant’s HIV Diagnosis Prompted Wider Investigation

The expanded screening campaign follows the identification of a four-month-old baby who tested HIV-positive during routine outpatient screening at SESSI’s Landhi Hospital.

According to Kalhoro, the infant’s mother was subsequently tested and was also found to be HIV-positive. The child’s father left the hospital before medical staff were able to collect a blood sample for testing.

Authorities have not stated how either the infant or the mother contracted the virus. No conclusions have been announced regarding the source of the infections, and investigations remain ongoing.

Screening Around Landhi and Valika Hospitals

Health officials have also expanded HIV testing in communities surrounding two SESSI healthcare facilities.

According to SESSI, approximately 2,000 people screened in and around Landhi Hospital have resulted in 10 confirmed HIV-positive cases.

Meanwhile, the larger screening campaign conducted around Valika Hospital has identified 120 HIV-positive children and adults from approximately 10,000 individuals tested so far.

Officials have not indicated whether the confirmed cases are directly connected to the hospitals or represent infections already present within the surrounding communities.

Province-Wide HIV Screening Underway

Kalhoro said the initiative is not limited to SESSI facilities.

He stated that the Sindh Health Department and the Sindh Labour Department are jointly conducting HIV screening across government hospitals throughout the province.

The expanded programme is intended to strengthen early detection, improve access to testing, and help health authorities better understand the prevalence of HIV in different communities.

Officials have not announced how long the province-wide screening campaign will continue.

Patient Care and Welfare Measures Continue

SESSI says healthcare services at its hospitals and dispensaries remain fully operational while the screening programme continues.

According to the commissioner, hospitals are continuing to provide routine outpatient and inpatient medical care alongside HIV testing activities.

Authorities are also preparing detailed medical records for every child diagnosed with HIV. Similar records are being compiled for affected family members to help ensure they receive appropriate medical treatment, counselling, and available welfare assistance.

Officials said the documentation process is intended to improve long-term patient care and support services.

Why the Expanded Screening Matters

Public health experts consider widespread HIV screening an important tool for identifying infections at an early stage, allowing patients to begin treatment sooner and helping reduce further transmission.

Routine screening also enables health authorities to monitor disease trends, assess healthcare needs, and allocate medical resources more effectively.

The current campaign reflects Sindh’s broader efforts to strengthen surveillance and improve access to HIV testing across public healthcare facilities.

Health officials have not suggested that the recent cases indicate a broader outbreak linked to hospitals. Instead, authorities say investigations and patient record reviews are continuing as part of precautionary public health measures.

Authorities Continue Reviewing Cases

The review of historical patient records is expected to continue while health officials expand screening across Sindh.

Authorities have stated that any patient found to be HIV-positive after receiving treatment at a SESSI hospital since January 2025 will have their case examined individually. The purpose of the review is to understand how the infection occurred and determine whether any accountability issues arise.

No official findings have yet been released regarding these reviews.

Health authorities continue to encourage testing, early diagnosis, and access to treatment as part of ongoing efforts to manage HIV across the province.