Yesterday, the Kano State House of Assembly approved a bill for a second reading, aiming to mandate prospective couples to undergo screenings for HIV, hepatitis, and sickle cell before marriage.
Musa Ali Kachako, the representative of Takai constituency and the bill’s sponsor, emphasized in his presentation that the state faces various health challenges, including HIV, due to the lack of medical screening before marriages.
Kachako argued that passing the bill into law would not only save lives but also help control the spread of life-threatening diseases.
Aminu Saad, representing the Ungogo constituency, pointed out that neighboring states like Jigawa, Katsina, and Kaduna have already passed similar bills to address healthcare issues. He emphasized that Kano, being the most populous state in the country, should follow suit to protect its citizens’ health by establishing pre-marital testing protocols to combat the spread of diseases such as hepatitis.
After the successful second reading, the Speaker, Ismail Falgore, referred the bill to the health committee for further legislative scrutiny. The committee is expected to report back to the house within four weeks.
Ahmad Datti; From the News Source: DailyTrust
