Valika Hospital | Pakistan

• SESSI approves creation of endowment fund for rehabilitation and welfare of 78 children • Okays departmental action against 37 doctors and paramedical staff of its health facility KARACHI: Days after the government confirmed that as many as 78 children had been infected with HIV/AIDS at the Sindh Employees’ Social Security Institution-run Kulsoom Bai Valika Hospital, the institution has allocated a sum of Rs2 billion to set up an endowment fund to provide long-term medical treatment and welfare support for the affected children, it emerged on Wednesday. Contrary to a claim made by a petitioner before the Sindh High Court that the number of affected children was 200, Sindh Labour Minister Saeed Ghani had confirmed over the weekend that the government had data of 78 children who were infected with HIV/AIDS at Valika Hospital. He had also assured the parents of the affected children of their complete medical treatment and promised every possible support. On Wednesday, Ghani chaired the meeting of the Governing...

Labour Minister Saeed Ghani.—Dawn 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...