http://www.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=64528
HIV test to be made mandatory for marriage registration in Goa
Press Trust of India
Posted online: Friday, March 17, 2006 at 1736 hours IST
Panaji, March 17: Goa government today decided to make HIV test
mandatory for registration of marriage.
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We have decided to amend the Goa Public Health Act making HIV test
mandatory before registration of marriage, State Health Minister
Dayanand Narvekar told reporters after the cabinet meeting.
The government has also decided to throw open this amendment for
public debate and various NGOs and other individuals can give their
suggestions in this matter, said Narvekar, briefing reporters on the
cabinet decision in presence of Chief Minister Pratapsingh Rane.
He said that extensive debate on this amendment would be held in and
outside the state for over two months.
There should be a national debate in which issues like morality and
personal privacy are discussed before giving final shape to the
amendment, Narvekar said.
The amendment would be put before the State Legislative Assembly in
the coming session in July, he said, adding nitty-gritties of this
amendment would be finalised only after discussions.
If amendment comes through, Goa would be the first state in the
country to have mandatory HIV test before marriage, Narvekar added.
In yet another proposed amendment to the Act, the government has
decided to offer free medicine to cancer and trauma patients who are
treated in state-owned Goa Medical College Hospital.
--
TUMCHER AXIRVAD ASSUM;
DEV BOREM KORUM.
Gabe Menezes.
London, England
