Yobe Assembly to enact law mandating HIV test for intending couples- Speaker

The Speaker of the Assembly stated this on Thursday.

The Yobe State House of Assembly on Thursday said it would enact a law making HIV test compulsory among intending couples in the state.

The Speaker, Dala Dogo, stated this in Damaturu when the ‘Network for People Living with HIV’ paid him a courtesy visit.

“The assembly will next week initiate a bill on compulsory HIV screening for intending couples and, it will receive accelerated hearing for passage into law before the end of the year,” he said.

Meanwhile, the speaker had directed the 24 legislators in the state assembly to retire to their constituencies next week for enlightenment campaign on voluntary testing among their electorates.

“The legislators will support transportation of the people to nearby health institutions as well as sponsoring healthcare officials to the remote areas to conduct voluntary testing on the people.

“This initiative has become necessary to curb the spread of the virus in the state, fight stigma and discrimination against people living with the virus,” he said.

Ali Baba, chairman of the network, urged government to engage members of the organisation in intervention programmes against HIV for effective fight against the scourge.

He said the intervention programmes were weak due to non-inclusion of members.

“Government and all other stakeholders have a duty to help us fight stigma and discrimination which are more devastating than the infection itself,” he said.

(NAN)