Lawmakers seek inquiry as HIV cases continue to rise in Sindh

WEB DESK: Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) MPA Maaz Mehboob on Tuesday submitted a resolution in the Sindh Assembly, calling for a parliamentary inquiry into the rising number of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) cases following the latest surge in Pakistan’s second-most populous province.

The move comes after at least 73 children tested positive for HIV in Khairpur district in June, according to a report submitted by the Antiretroviral Treatment (ART) Centre at Chandka Medical College (CMC) Children’s Hospital. Dawn News reported earlier that more than 600 HIV cases had also been detected in the Islamabad Capital Territory over the past year.

The resolution called for the formation of a parliamentary inquiry committee to investigate the spread of HIV across Sindh and submit its findings to the Sindh Assembly within 30 days.

It stated that the continued rise in HIV infections remained a matter of concern despite the provincial government’s Rs392.16 billion health budget. It also questioned why cases continued to increase despite the Rs368 million allocated to the Sindh AIDS Control Programme and an annual grant of $268 million, demanding a thorough investigation.

The resolution further directed the Sindh health secretary to present a detailed report before the assembly on the procurement of syringes, inspections conducted, reported violations, and legal proceedings initiated from 2010 to the present.

It also sought an investigation into the causes behind the spread of HIV in Karachi, Sukkur, Larkana, Shikarpur and other affected districts, with a focus on identifying negligence and fixing responsibility where applicable.

In addition, the resolution called for a report on the implementation of the Sindh Blood Transfusion Act and the Sindh Regulation and Control of Disposable Syringes Act, 2010.

It also urged the provincial government to take immediate measures to curb the further spread of HIV and ensure safe healthcare facilities across all 32 districts of Sindh.