http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_1765165,0006.htm
Goa Health Minister for HIV tests before marriage
Press Trust of India
Panaji, August 10, 2006
Favouring mandatory HIV/AIDS testing before marriage in the state, Goa
Health Minister Dayanand Narvekar on Thursday said such a legislation
would help curb the spread of the disease.
The Minister, participating in a state-level media sensitisation
workshop organised by a private NGO 'Community Resource Foundation' in
Panaji, said the legislation, making HIV testing mandatory before
marriage, would trigger a 'thinking process' in the state.
Through a cabinet decision, the Goa government had decided to make HIV
test mandatory before marriage and the state health department had
initiated a procedure to assess public opinion on the matter.
Referring to the state government's recent move to initiate
legislation in this regard, which was opposed by Opposition members,
Narvekar said "it (legislation) will be the need of the hour in the
years to come. Some court may come with directives, making state
government's such testing mandatory and then we will think that we
should have done it earlier," Narvekar said.
The Minister said suggestions to make the testing voluntary or
counselling for couples before marriage, would dilute the mandatory
provision.
Narvekar assured that the state government would procure enough kits
to conduct tests. "The tests could be done free in government-run Goa
Medical College Hospital or at two district hospitals so that they are
accurate."
Printed From
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DEV BOREM KORUM.
Gabe Menezes.
London, England
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