KARACHI: Over 2,000 people with HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) were brought under treatment again in a year, the health department stated on Thursday.

In response to the media reports highlighting the growing threat of HIV in the province, the department, in a statement, said that 97,935 individuals out of the total 486,008 have been screened in 2026.

According to the department, over 500,000 people attended the 5,000-plus public awareness sessions held across the province.

“From March 2025 till April 2026, over 2,000 HIV missing patients were again connected with the treatment system,” the health department’s statement reads.

The government, it says, has taken important measures for HIV prevention. It refers to the health department’s order released on Oct 30, 2025, which makes HIV screening mandatory for rape victims and accused persons, pregnant women (on first examination), patients requiring surgeries and dental treatment.

“There has been a 95 per cent success in the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV. All children with HIV positive mothers were tested negative for the virus during 2025-26.

Published in Dawn, April 25th, 2026