HIV/AIDS Test a must do for Couples Before Marriage - Jigawa State

A bill has been passed in Jigawa state House of Assembly which makes it mandatory for all intending couples to undergo test for HIV/AIDs, twice, in the last three months, before marriage is contracted.

The Chairman of the Committee on the control of HIV/AIDs, Ibrahim Suleman Gwiwa, made this known at the plenary session on Wednesday, Octobe 12.

He noted that the bill intended to provide free and compulsory HIV/AID test before marriage, as well prohibit all forms of discrimination and stigmatisation against people living with the virus.

Gwiwa said the bill became imperative following the widespread of the killer disease among couples in the state.‎

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.

"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.

"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," he said.

About a week ago emerging reports suggested that British scientists could be one step closer towards finding a permanent cure for HIV-AIDS.

Huffington Post reports that a 44-year-old social worker in London appears to be completely free of the virus after undergoing an experimental therapy technique.‎

NAIJ Reports