KARACHI: A wave of devastation has hit several families in the city as more children have reportedly contracted HIV due to alleged criminal negligence at Walika Hospital.
The latest reports indicate that two more young girls have tested positive for the deadly virus, adding to a growing list of victims.
The incident has sparked outrage among residents, who accuse the hospital administration and medical staff of playing with the lives of the youth and compromising the future of the country.
In one harrowing instance from Zia Colony, a father is grappling with the reality that all three of his children are now HIV positive. The tragedy unfolded incrementally; the man’s 12-year-old and 3-year-old sons were confirmed positive last month. His daughter, who was initially admitted to the hospital for the treatment of a chest infection, also tested positive after her condition failed to improve.
“It felt as if the sky had fallen on us when we received the third report,” the grieving father said, describing the profound psychological and emotional toll on his family.
In a separate case, a three-year-old girl from the Metrol area has also been confirmed HIV positive. Her parents stated that the child had undergone treatment at Walika Hospital, and the diagnosis was only sought after her health deteriorated significantly.
These cases appear to be part of a larger pattern of systemic failure at the facility. Sources suggest that dozens of young patients may have been rendered vulnerable to the virus, raising serious questions regarding sterilization protocols, the reuse of syringes, and the overall standard of care provided at the hospital.
Outraged parents and affected families are now demanding a high-level probe into the matter. They have called upon the health authorities to take strict punitive action against the responsible medical personnel to ensure that no other child falls victim to such avoidable medical malpractice.
