BIRNIWA (Jigawa) – A civil society activist, Mr Musa Abubakar, on Sunday called on Jigawa Government to enact a law compelling couples to find out their HIV status before engaging in marriage.
Abubakar made the call at an HIV and AIDS town hall meeting organised by an NGO, Partnership for Action and Development in Birniwa, Jigawa State.
Abubakar, who was also the chairman of the organisation, said that the call was imperative toward effective control of the scourge.
He said that such laws would go a long way in curtailing the spread of the disease as well as enhance public health system.
“It is desirable to have enabling laws to make people know their HIV status before marriage. ‘’
“This will contain the transmission of the disease, especially in rural communities,” he said.
Abubakar explained that the organisation had organised the town hall meeting as part of its comprehensive HIV and AIDS sensitisation activity.
He said the campaign was designed to create awareness on the scourge as well as promote care and support for persons living with the disease.
The chairman noted that such campaign activity was a collective responsibility hence the need for the society to work toward the total control of the scourge. [eap_ad_1] According to him, the organisation established in 2005, was working to promote public awareness in areas of education, justice and health care delivery.
In a remark, the Chief Medical Director, Birniwa General Hospital, Dr Muhammad Nuraddeen, stressed the need for people to know their HIV status.
Nuraddeen noted that the measure would control transmission of the disease.
Also speaking, Malam Kabir Muhammad, an Islamic cleric, advised parents to ensure proper moral upbringing of their wards as a way of effective control of the pandemic.
No fewer than 50 participants drawn from Community Based Organisations, Faith Based Organisations, farmers and women groups attended the meeting. (NAN)
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