KARACHI: The Sindh Health Department and the CDC-I HIV/AIDS Sindh Programme have rejected recent media reports regarding HIV cases, terming them inaccurate, misleading, and a cause of unnecessary public panic.
In an official statement, the department expressed concern over reports claiming 894 new HIV cases and 329 infections among children under 14 during the first quarter of 2026. Officials clarified that such figures were based on unauthorized and unverified sources, including private practitioners, which is a violation of the HIV Treatment and Protection Act 2013. They emphasized that the only authenticated and verified data on HIV cases is maintained by CDC-I Sindh.
According to the health authorities, the apparent increase in reported cases does not indicate failure but reflects enhanced screening and improved reporting mechanisms. So far, a total of 486,008 individuals have been screened across the province, including 97,935 screenings conducted in 2026 alone.
The statement further highlighted that 5,182 awareness sessions have been conducted across Sindh, reaching more than 500,000 people. Additionally, over 2,000 individuals living with HIV have been successfully re-linked to care over the past year.
The Sindh government has implemented several key measures to prevent the spread of HIV. These include mandatory screening—under an order issued on October 30, 2025—for victims and accused in sexual assault cases, pregnant women at their first antenatal visit, and patients undergoing surgeries or dental procedures.
Officials also reported significant progress in preventing mother-to-child transmission, with a 95 percent success rate achieved through mandatory screening of pregnant women. Notably, all children born to HIV-positive mothers during 2025–2026 tested negative.
The department stated that a network of 41 Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) centres is operational across the province, providing free testing, treatment, counselling, and rehabilitation services. Financial support is also being extended to affected women and children through the Endowment Fund and the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP).
The statement assured that there is currently no shortage of HIV and TB medicines in the province. It further stressed that HIV is not limited to a single province but is a national challenge, requiring coordinated efforts and the dissemination of accurate information to effectively address it.
