Statement from AK Party's Özlem Zengin regarding the child who died of AIDS: He was abused by his father.

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A 13-year-old child receiving treatment at Ege University Medical Faculty Hospital in Izmir has died due to AIDS. It was learned that the child did not carry the HIV virus three years ago, while the father was HIV positive and the mother was HIV negative.

The painful news from Izmir has dominated Turkey's agenda. A 13-year-old child, who was hospitalized with a suspicion of bone loss, was found to be HIV positive (AIDS). Despite all interventions at the hospital, the child could not be saved. New details have emerged regarding the child's death, which was determined to be due to AIDS. It was revealed that the child did not have AIDS three years ago, while the father carried the HIV virus and the mother did not.

MINISTRY OF HEALTH SOURCES SAID 'UNDER INVESTIGATION'

While the way AIDS was transmitted to the child and whether there was any family abuse is being discussed, the Ministry of Health denied this claim in a statement. Officials from the Ministry of Health confirmed that in the HIV test conducted, the father was positive, while the mother and sibling were negative. Ministry sources stated, "No evidence of sexual abuse was found, but investigations are ongoing. The cause is being investigated."

AK PARTY GROUP DEPUTY CHAIR ZENGİN: THE CHILD WAS ABUSED

Group deputy chairpersons also took the floor outside the agenda in the General Assembly of the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM). AK Party Group Deputy Chair Özlem Zengin stated regarding the issue, "Today, another one of our children in Izmir has lost their life. A 13-year-old boy was abused by his father."

"A 13-YEAR-OLD BOY"

The latest information shared by Melike Şahin from NTV regarding the issue is as follows: "A 13-year-old child has died due to AIDS. He was receiving treatment at Ege University Medical Faculty Hospital in Izmir. His condition was very critical when he was hospitalized. He was admitted due to bone loss and did not have a positive HIV test. In other words, he was in the final stage, but he was taken to the hospital when other diseases were added. Unfortunately, his struggle for life did not last long, and he passed away. Let’s note that he was a 13-year-old boy. HIV is generally transmitted sexually. If the mother is HIV positive, it can be transmitted to the baby at birth. However, with new treatments in recent years, mothers can receive treatment during pregnancy to ensure that their children are born without HIV. If a child is born HIV positive and does not receive treatment, unfortunately, they pass away very shortly thereafter.

"WE LEARNED THAT THE CHILD DID NOT HAVE AIDS THREE YEARS AGO"

Therefore, if a 13-year-old child did not acquire this virus at birth, which according to the information I obtained indicates that the child did not acquire this virus at birth. There is a risk of transmission through other means, including sexual transmission. When it comes to children in question, the issue of abuse also comes to the fore. Let’s note that all HIV positive cases in children are also judicial cases. The child's father is HIV positive. This is already being monitored. However, I learned that the mother is not HIV positive. There is already information that the child was not born with a virus. This is also very important. The child underwent a tonsillectomy in 2021, and during this routine surgery, an HIV test is performed. In the HIV test conducted on the child in 2021, the child tested negative. In other words, we learn that the child who passed away was not HIV positive three years ago. It is clear that the virus was transmitted to the child in the last three years, and the child could not be treated. This also strengthens the situation that it is a judicial case. It indicates that there is a possibility of sexual transmission. Let’s say that the possibility of family abuse is also included. The investigation is likely ongoing in this direction. The way the child was infected and whether there was any abuse will be investigated."

THERE ARE NEARLY 250 HIV POSITIVE CHILDREN IN TURKEY

In a statement regarding the painful incident, Şahin pointed out a significant increase in HIV positive cases among children, stating, "Currently, there are 100 HIV positive children being monitored at Istanbul Medical Faculty. The virus has been transmitted sexually to 20 of these children. One is a case of abuse. Currently, there are nearly 250 known HIV positive children in Turkey."