By Yakubu Uba
NAN-H-35
HIV
Yola, Nov. 27, 2017 (NAN) Some stakeholders in Adamawa have commended the State House of Assembly for passage of the bill that will make it compulsory for intending couples to go for the HIV/AIDS and genotype (sickle cell anaemia) tests before marriage.
The stakeholders who spoke to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Yola said that citizens of the state should always welcome any measures that would help contain epidemics.
Alhaji Bello Adamu, the Adamawa Branch chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), said the union was happy with the passage of the bill.
“The bill when signed into law by the state governor will play a major role in controlling the spread of such serious epidemic whose cure has not been found.
“Our union is happy with this development and is committed to supporting it,” Bello said.
Also speaking, the Secretary of Adamawa Muslims Council, Mallam Ismail Modibbo, said the council participated in the public hearing of the bill and was satisfied that the bill was finally passed by the assembly.
Modibbo said Islam supported such measure to contain spread of an epidemic among humans.
“In Islam, any of the intending couple with health problem is expected to speak out before the marriage is consummated.
“It is also being discouraged that a person suffering from a contagious disease must not mingle with others without treatment talk less of marriage,” Modibbo said.
Bishop Dami Mamza, the newly elected chairman of Adanmawa chapter of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) on his part, lauded the development saying that it was worthwhile.
“CAN as a body has not taken a position on the bill but as an individual I support the bill and will advise all intending couples to undergo the test before marriage.
“However, where the couples decided they want to get married without undergoing the test, they should not be forced to do the test,” Mamza, Catholic bishop of Yola, said.
NAN reports that parts of the bill passed early this month stipulated that any couple intending to marry would be subjected to a compulsory HIV and genotype tests.
It started that such tests should be conducted in public hospitals or registered diagnostic centres one week before the marriage.
The bill also required that the certificates of the two tests should be presented to any religious institution or the clergymen of church or mosque where the wedding would be contracted.
“Any person or persons who have complied with this law in fulfillment of the requirement of the previous marriage shall not on this basis evade undergoing the tests when contracting any subsequent marriage,” the proposed law stated.
Part three of the bill also made case for non-discrimination of people living with HIV/AIDS and sickle cell anaemia in the state.
“Individuals, communities, employers and employees have a mutual responsibility to prevent discrimination on basis of HIV (AIDS) or Sickle Cell Anaemia in the society.
“No cultural practice or tradition shall encourage documented practices that exposé people to risk of HIV infection,” the bill said.
It further provided for a penalty of N150,000 for individuals and N500,000 for organisations or imprisonment for a period not less than one year or both for any person or institution found guilty of non-compliance with the law.
With regard to organisations, the head or representatives of the board of the organisation would be held liable, the bill said. (NAN)
YMU/PAD
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Edited by Peter Dada