By Kasim Isa Muhammad
On Monday, Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf signed the Kano State Premarital Health Screening Bill into law, making pre-marital health screening mandatory for all prospective couples in the state.
TCR reported that the law aims to reduce the likelihood of children being born with underlying health issues such as sickle cell anemia, HIV/AIDS, and hepatitis.
According to the governor’s spokesperson, Dawakin Tofa, the law is designed to enhance the healthcare sector and make Kano free from or significantly reduce health challenges.
The law necessitates mandatory testing for HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis, genotype, and other relevant examinations before marriage.
It was learned that It also prohibits any discrimination or stigmatization against individuals living with HIV/AIDS, sickle cell anemia, hepatitis, and related conditions.
Governor Yusuf emphasized that the law would help uphold the sanctity of marriages in the state and ensure the birth of healthy children, free from preventable illnesses. The law was signed on May 6, 2024, and will come into effect on May 13, 2024.
As per the new law, no wedding will be permitted in Kano without the presentation of a health screening certificate for genotype, hepatitis B and C, HIV/AIDS, and other related illnesses.
The Citizen Reports gathered that any person or individual found violating the law may face a fine of up to N500,000, imprisonment of up to five years, or both if convicted.
The law mandates that any individual intending to marry must undergo testing for HIV, Hepatitis B and C, genotype, and any other relevant tests before marriage.
Meanwhile, the law prohibits the formalization of any marriage contract for individuals planning to marry without presenting a test certificate from a government-approved health facility.
The Kano State Government has taken this initiative to ensure the well-being and health of its citizens, particularly prospective couples, and to prevent the spread of genetic disorders in the state.
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