Goa: Govt firm on tabling bill on HIV/AIDS tests

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GOVT FIRM ON TABLING BILL ON HIV/AIDS TESTS

Date : Sunday June 25 2006.The Navhind Times.

NT Staff Reporter

June 24: The Government has re-confirmed its decision to table a bill in the

assembly making the HIV/AIDS test compulsory for the couples desiring to get

married in the state.

The passing of the Bill will make Goa the first state in the Country to enact

such a legislation. The government has, howver, not reached a decision whether

the bill should be introduced during the forthcoming monsoon session of the

assembly or not.

Meanwhile the public debates in this respect, organized by the Health Department

during past three months have recently concluded.

The Health Department source informed this daily hat the government has

considered some of the aspects which were raised during the public debates by

the experts in the field.

“Many aspects were discussed during he debates”, the source said “however, the

main point raised by the participants in the debate was the human angle linked

to the test”.

Most of the experts acknowledging that such as test was of paramount importance,

especially with the increasing number of HIV/AIDS cases observed in the state,

said that he human rights, however should not be ignored in the process, the

source informed.

The source further said hat the government has decided to relax the proposed

law, if the bride as well as the groom agree to submit an affidavit as regards

their decision to forfeit the test. Except this facility, no other changes would

be made in the bill it was informed.

The apprehension expressed by the public about the time that would be required

for conducting such tests and the behaviour of the clinicians towards those

undergoing tests, have been also seriously considered by the government and it

has been decided to streamline the entire testing operation, in he best possible

way, from the day one, the source pointed out.

The government is also in the process of deciding whether to conduct such test

exclusively at the Goa Medical College and hospital or in more government

medical institutions around the state.

_____________________

In Solidarity

Jaffer Inamdar, President, Positive Lives Foundation “PLF”

H.No. 133/A, B/H.Omer E-Masjid,

Near Gururdwara Rd, Mangoor Hill,

Vasco Da Gama, Goa, 403802

Email : plf@... / poslivesfoundation@...