Pakistan’s HIV crisis hitting children, SIUT seminar told


Health experts warn of stigma, unsafe practices and gaps in data as cases among kids triple since 2010

IV Report

KARACHI: Pakistan’s HIV epidemic is now infecting children at an alarming rate, health experts said at a seminar on Tuesday, with stigma, weak infection control, and gaps in local data cited as key challenges.

The seminar, titled “Nothing about Us, Without Us: Ethical Responses to the Evolving HIV Epidemic in Pakistan: Regional and Global Implications”, was organised by the Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation’s Centre of Biomedical Ethics and Culture in collaboration with the World Health Organisation Eastern Mediterranean Region, according to a SIUT press release.

The discussion was particularly significant, the release stated, as Pakistan is experiencing a rapidly growing HIV epidemic. Citing WHO reporting, SIUT noted that new HIV cases among children aged 0–14 years increased from 530 in 2010 to around 1,800 in 2023.

The session began with welcome addresses by Prof Aamir Jafarey, Chairperson of CBEC, and Dr Arshad Altaf of WHO-EMRO.

In a keynote delivered online, Prof Elizabeth Bukusi from Nairobi, Kenya, shared lessons from resource-limited settings, according to the release. She highlighted the importance of strengthening healthcare systems, improving access to treatment, and ensuring that communities affected by HIV are meaningfully involved in efforts to control the epidemic.

Dr Muhammad Shahid Jamil of WHO-EMRO then discussed the HIV response across the Eastern Mediterranean Region. He highlighted common challenges faced by countries in the region and opportunities for greater cooperation and stronger public health responses.

Dr Samreen Sarfaraz of Indus Hospital and Health Network presented an overview of the HIV situation in Pakistan. She discussed common misconceptions about the disease, changing patterns of HIV among children and key populations, healthcare-associated transmission, stigma, and delayed diagnosis.

The release further stated that she highlighted the difficulties faced by patients and their families in accessing appropriate care and support.

According to the press release, speakers noted that the HIV challenge extends beyond medical treatment. It stated that fear, misinformation, stigma and lack of trust can discourage people from seeking testing and care. Therefore, protecting the rights, dignity and privacy of people living with HIV is essential to an effective public health response.

The seminar stressed that scientific and medical advances must be supported by safe and accountable healthcare systems, wider access to testing and treatment, stronger infection prevention measures and greater community participation.

The seminar was attended by representatives from UNOPS, Nai Zindagi Trust Sindh, Bridge Consultants Foundation, and civil society organisations working on HIV-related issues. It concluded with a shared understanding, according to the release, that addressing the HIV challenge requires a comprehensive approach combining quality medical care, public awareness, ethical healthcare practices, equal access to services and respect for the rights and dignity of people living with HIV.

Photos courtesy: SIUT

  

With an uninterrupted 23-year career in daily journalism (1991-2013), the author/editor of this blog currently serves as Editor of Social Track, a weekly newspaper focused on social sectors, based in Karachi. Holding a master's degree in Mass Communications from the University of Karachi (1990), his professional experience includes roles as senior reporter at Daily Dawn, Karachi (May 2001-August 2013) and Chief Reporter at The News International, Karachi (April 1991-May 2001). He has a strong background in development journalism, he has an extensive portfolio of news stories, analytical reports and features covering a wide range of sectors. He has had the privilege of covering numerous high-profile figures, including Pakistani presidents, prime ministers, army chiefs, foreign dignitaries, and VVIPs and attending conferences and workshops abroad. He began his journalism career in the early 1980s. Throughout his career, he has received several national awards from government and private organisations. He has contributed to various radio and TV/channel broadcasts and has also served as a trainer at workshops in Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad, focused on training journalists.

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