Over 2,100 Seminary Students Screened for HIV and Hepatitis in Sindh; No Infections Detected | ChatZyr

KARACHI

More than 2,100 students enrolled in religious seminaries across Sindh have undergone screening for HIV and hepatitis, with no infections detected during the province-wide campaign, the Sindh Health Department announced on Saturday.

According to the department, 2,132 children from seminaries across the province were tested under a special screening initiative carried out by the Communicable Disease Control (CDC) HIV Programme, Sindh. Officials said laboratory analysis found no cases of HIV or hepatitis among the students who participated in the drive.

Health authorities described the outcome as encouraging, saying the campaign was part of preventive public health efforts aimed at strengthening disease surveillance and protecting children from communicable diseases.

"The objective of the campaign was to prevent the spread of these serious infections among children through early detection and timely intervention," the department said in a statement.

Preventive campaign follows previous HIV outbreaks

Officials said the screening programme was launched as a preventive measure following previous HIV outbreaks involving children in different parts of Sindh. They clarified that the initiative was designed to strengthen surveillance and early detection and was not launched in response to any reported outbreak within religious seminaries.

The department said preventive screening remains one of the most effective tools for identifying infections early, monitoring disease trends and reducing the risk of future outbreaks.

Parents and seminaries praised for cooperation

The Health Department thanked the administrations of participating seminaries, along with parents, teachers and community members, for supporting the campaign.

Officials said their cooperation ensured the successful implementation of the screening programme across the province and demonstrated the importance of community participation in public health initiatives.

More screening drives planned

The department said similar screening campaigns will continue across Sindh as part of its broader strategy to improve disease surveillance and protect vulnerable communities.

Health officials added that routine screening, public awareness, safe healthcare practices and timely diagnosis remain essential components of the province's communicable disease control programme.

HIV remains a public health challenge

While no infections were detected during the latest screening campaign, HIV continues to pose a significant public health challenge in Sindh.

The province has experienced several HIV outbreaks involving children in recent years. Among the most notable is the situation at Kulsum Bai Valika Hospital in Karachi, where health authorities have reported more than 100 paediatric HIV cases, prompting intensified surveillance and preventive measures across Sindh.

Medical experts continue to stress that expanding routine screening programmes, improving infection control practices and increasing public awareness are critical to preventing future outbreaks.

Why it matters

The successful screening of more than 2,100 seminary students, with no HIV or hepatitis infections detected, provides reassurance for families and educational institutions while demonstrating the importance of preventive healthcare and early disease surveillance. The campaign also reflects Sindh's continued commitment to strengthening public health systems following previous HIV outbreaks in the province.

Published on ChatZyr.net

Written By Editorial Desk | Team ChatZyr

Disclaimer: This report is based on information released by the Sindh Health Department and other credible publicly available sources at the time of publication. Screening results reflect the participants tested during this campaign and do not represent province-wide prevalence. Additional data may become available as future surveillance programmes continue.