Mandatory Pre-marriage AIDS test In Mumbai ?

February 19, 2002

Pre-marriage AIDS test likely in Goa, should city follow?

SHARMISTHA CHATTERJEE

TIMES NEWS NETWORK [ SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2002 9:29:38 PM ]

In Goa, the government is seriously considering making HIV testing

mandatory before marriage. With citizens strongly endorsing it,

experts feel there is a strong possibility that pre-nuptial AIDS

tests for couples will soon become a reality in the tourist hot spot.

In Mumbai, however, experts treat the idea with skepticism despite

the megapolis' large AIDS population.

State Health Minister Dr Digvijay Khanvilkar says mandatory HIV

testing is an encroachment of human rights. " You can't compel people

to get themselves tested. You can't make a success of anything by

forcing it down people's necks, that too in a city like Mumbai, " he

says. Adds a government hospital doctor, " By making the tests

compulsory, you are assuming that everyone's sexually promiscuous.

This is a gross violation of human rights. Besides, who will work as

the watchdog? "

In Uganda, in the early '80s, a public appeal for HIV testing was

made after 40 per cent of the population was found to be HIV-

positive. Though more and more people between 25 to 35 years of age

are being identified as AIDS victims, experts feel mandatory testing

may prove counterproductive. " A fear psychosis may develop and sexual

patterns will change, " says Dr Subhash Hira, director, AIDS Research

and Control Organisation (ARCON). " Only voluntary compliance can

prove effective. "

With a window of six to seven years between infection and detection,

chances are the virus may not show up even in a pre-nuptial test.

Says Dr Shanta Shankar Narayan, joint director, Mumbai District Aids

Control Society, " Besides, how do you ensure that an individual will

not indulge in high-risk behaviour after marriage? "

Most settle on counselling and awareness building as the solutoin.

Says Dr J K Maniar, Grant Medical College, " You can't force anything

on people. Explaining the implications of one's behaviour is what one

can do. " Agrees Sudesh Agarkar (name changed), who tested himself

seven times before marriage to ensure he is not HIV-positive, " I got

it done, not because I was asked to, but because I realised that wife-

to-be's life was also at stake. "

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