KARACHI: Over 2,000 children of different seminaries have been recently tested for HIV/AIDS and hepatitis and none of them was found positive for the infections, the health department stated on Saturday.

Officials said, a total of 2,132 children enrolled with different religious institutions across the province were tested for the two infections under a special screening programme of the Communicable Disease Control (CDC), HIV programme, Sindh, part of the health department.

“Not a single case of these infections was detected in the detailed analysis of lab results, which is an encouraging sign. The aim of the campaign was to prevent the spread of these serious infections among children,” they said.

The department expressed gratitude to all the administrative officials of religious institutions, parents and teachers who extended their cooperation during the drive. “The department will continue such campaigns to protect child health and ensure timely action against any possible outbreak,” the statement adds.

It might be recalled that the government’s screening campaign was launched in the backdrop of multiple outbreaks of HIV/AIDS among children in the province. One of which is a massive outbreak at Karachi’s Kulsum Bai Valika Hospital where the number of HIV-infected children has risen to more than 100.

Published in Dawn, July 26th, 2026