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KARACHI: Confirming that at least 78 children had been infected with HIV/AIDS at Valika Hospital, Sindh Labour Minister Saeed Ghani has promised that the government will investigate the matter thoroughly and take strict action against all those, whether doctors, officers or paramedical staff, found responsible.
Last week, the Sindh High Court had given the provincial government two weeks to explain HIV outbreak at Kulsoom Bai Valika Hospital — a Sindh Employees’ Social Security Institution (SESSI) facility being run under the labour department — in the SITE area.
Petitioner Tariq Mansoor had filed a preliminary list of children infected with HIV/AIDS due to alleged reuse of contaminated syringes and asked the SHC to order an independent inquiry, registration of a case and lifelong medical treatment, as well as appropriate compensation, for the affected children.
Talking to the media after attending a programme organised by the Karachi Film School on Saturday evening, Minister Ghani described the HIV cases involving children at the SESSI-run Valika Hospital as a “serious issue”.
