Warning: This story contains details that readers may find distressing.
Mohammed Amin was just eight years old when he died shortly after testing positive for HIV. His mother, Sughra, recalls his agony, describing how the fevers compelled him to sleep in the rain while he writhed in pain. After Mohammed's diagnosis, his sister Asma also tested positive for HIV. The family believes both were infected due to injections with reused syringes at THQ Taunsa Hospital in Punjab, where a major outbreak has been linked to contaminated medical practices. BBC Eye's investigation identified over 331 children who contracted HIV in the area from late 2024 to early 2026.
Despite an initial investigation that led to a promised crackdown involving the suspension of medical staff, undercover footage captured by BBC Eye revealed ongoing unsafe practices, including the reuse of syringes on multiple patients and inadequate sterilization procedures.
Experts express grave concerns that systemic pressures and a cultural preference for injections could be behind the continued unsafe practices in Pakistani hospitals. The practices observed at THQ Taunsa mirror those identified during previous outbreaks in Pakistan, noted one medical expert. Parents are urged to be vigilant and cautious, especially in environments with troubling reports of healthcare standards.
Mohammed Amin was just eight years old when he died shortly after testing positive for HIV. His mother, Sughra, recalls his agony, describing how the fevers compelled him to sleep in the rain while he writhed in pain. After Mohammed's diagnosis, his sister Asma also tested positive for HIV. The family believes both were infected due to injections with reused syringes at THQ Taunsa Hospital in Punjab, where a major outbreak has been linked to contaminated medical practices. BBC Eye's investigation identified over 331 children who contracted HIV in the area from late 2024 to early 2026.
Despite an initial investigation that led to a promised crackdown involving the suspension of medical staff, undercover footage captured by BBC Eye revealed ongoing unsafe practices, including the reuse of syringes on multiple patients and inadequate sterilization procedures.
Experts express grave concerns that systemic pressures and a cultural preference for injections could be behind the continued unsafe practices in Pakistani hospitals. The practices observed at THQ Taunsa mirror those identified during previous outbreaks in Pakistan, noted one medical expert. Parents are urged to be vigilant and cautious, especially in environments with troubling reports of healthcare standards.
