Jigawa State House of Assembly has passed a bill which makes
it compulsory for all intending couples to undergo test for HIV/AIDs, twice, in
the last three months before marriage is contracted.
it compulsory for all intending couples to undergo test for HIV/AIDs, twice, in
the last three months before marriage is contracted.
Chairman
of the Committee on the control of HIV/AIDs, Ibrahim Suleman Gwiwa, while reading the report on Wednesday, October 12, 2016 said
the bill intends to provide free and compulsory HIV/AID test before marriage as
well prohibit all forms of discrimination and stigmatization against people
living with virus.
of the Committee on the control of HIV/AIDs, Ibrahim Suleman Gwiwa, while reading the report on Wednesday, October 12, 2016 said
the bill intends to provide free and compulsory HIV/AID test before marriage as
well prohibit all forms of discrimination and stigmatization against people
living with virus.
Gwiwa said the bill became necessary because the disease was
spreading in the state through marriages contracted without HIV tests, between
prospective couple.
spreading in the state through marriages contracted without HIV tests, between
prospective couple.
He explained that in the bill, Sharia and Magistrate Courts
would have jurisdiction to try HIV/AIDs related offences and added that, on the
other hand, Association for People living with HIV/AIDs and State Agency for
the Control of AIDs would be deployed for enforcement at all levels.
would have jurisdiction to try HIV/AIDs related offences and added that, on the
other hand, Association for People living with HIV/AIDs and State Agency for
the Control of AIDs would be deployed for enforcement at all levels.
“The bill intends to provide free and compulsory HIV/AIDs
test before marriage and to prohibit all forms of discrimination and
stigmatisation against persons living with the virus in Jigawa with a view to
curbing the spread of the deadly virus in the state.
test before marriage and to prohibit all forms of discrimination and
stigmatisation against persons living with the virus in Jigawa with a view to
curbing the spread of the deadly virus in the state.
“Intending couples should submit themselves together to the
same facility and the result should be open to them by the counsellor at the
same time.
same facility and the result should be open to them by the counsellor at the
same time.
“Tests should be done twice, three months and two weeks to
the marriage and the bill indicates
that Shariah and Magistrate
Courts in the state have jurisdiction to try offences under the law.”
the marriage and the bill indicates
that Shariah and Magistrate
Courts in the state have jurisdiction to try offences under the law.”
