Goa to make HIV- test must before marriage

[Guest guest]

Goa may make HIV-test must before marriage

The Indian Express 18th January, 2002-New Delhi

The Goa government will consider making HIV test compulsory for couples before

registration of marriages, the state Assembly was informed today.

The suggestion to make HIV test compulsory before marriage, came from Speaker

Partap Singh Rane, during discussion on a question of Fernandes (Cong)

about the number of HIV sero-positive people in Goa.

Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar welcomed the suggestion. In tervening during the

discussion, Rane pointed out that there was a law in Goa to ensure that all

couples were vaccinated against small pox, before marriages. Now small pox is

eradicated and similar law could be framed for mandatory HIV test before

marriage, he added.

Under the Common Givil Code, which is in force in the state, registration of

marriages is compulsory for all the communities residing in Goa. Cutting across

party lines, the legislators pointed out that all 11 talukas in the state have

the problem of HIV infection and also expressed serious concern over the spread

of disease.

Nirmala Sawant, Francisco Sardinha, Jitendra Deshprabhu, Mauvin Gudinho (all

Cong), and former chief minister Dr. Wilfred D'Souza urged the state to improve

the facilities in government hospitals for detection and treatment of HIV

sero-positive people. Fernandes (Cong) urged the government to consider

subsidising AIDS-control drugs at least for people belonging to low-in-come

group.

In his reply, Health Minister Dr. Suresh Amonkar said HIV sero-positive people

were detected in all the 11 talukas and nearly 801 people have tested positive

in the testes conducted by the Goa Medical Collage Hospital in 2001.

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Jagdish Harsh ( jharsh@... )

François-Xavier Bagnoud (INDIA) ( www.fxb.org )

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[Guest guest]

Dear Forum members,

This is in response to the news item Goa may make HIV-test must before

marriage. Very intersting report. Delicate balance between protection of

women's vulnerability and the rights of the infected and affected.

However, potential tool for misuse. It will be interesting to see how

do we react to this ? Is anything similar in practice anywhere else

in the world? The informed may please come forward.

Pramod

Pramod Kumar

E-mail: pramodsarang@...

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[Guest guest]

Dear Friends,

The labs there will be making a lot of money. I feel that the

couples must get reports from at least two labs a few hundred

miles apart. Recheck every six months must made statutory.

Jai Hind. Yours sincerely,

Kishore

Mailing address:

Dr. K. Kishore Kumar,

Ashoka Bhavan,

Near MSM College,

Kayamkulam 690502

India

Email ID: kumarkishore@...

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