Goa to go ahead with plan on mandatory premarital HIV test

[Guest guest]

Goa to go ahead with plan on mandatory premarital HIV test

Special Correspondent

PANAJI: The Goa Government will go ahead with its proposed plan to

make HIV/AIDS testing before marriage mandatory.

Reacting to the reported opposition by United Nations AIDS Programme

Country Director Denis Broun, Chief Minister Pratapsinh Rane said on

Friday: " The UN HIV programme is not law, we are passing a law. "

He said the decision has been taken in the interest of the people.

The legislation will have a provision that if both the bride and the

bridegroom sign a consent paper that they do not want the test, it

will not be done.

Health Minister Dayanand Narvekar had announced plans to make

premarital HIV test compulsory before marriage registration.

The State Cabinet has cleared the proposal to amend the Goa Public

Health Act in the monsoon session of the State Assembly in July.

However, United Nation's HIV Programme official has said that the

State has to think again as it will prove to be counter-productive.

He said that it not only violates privacy but also stigmatises the

entire family, and also tends to create a black market in false HIV

test results.

http://www.hindu.com/2006/04/01/stories/2006040102080300.htm