Himachal proposes compulsory pre-marital HIV test

In a bid to build the foundation of a healthy society, Himachal Pradesh is mulling to introduce a proposal of making HIV test mandatory for all bride and groom before marriage, stated Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister of State without giving details of the proposal and its time frame for implementation.

The pre-marital HIV test of bride and groom would prevent the couple from further infection and would also secure the next generation, he added while inaugurating a month long state level AIDS awareness campaign organised by Ashadeep, a non-government organisation (NGO) with support of State Health and Family Welfare Department in Shimla.

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Emphasizing on the need to create awareness among people about pre-marital HIV test, the government would launch a statewide campaign, said CM adding that the initiative of the government could not succeed without people’s awareness and active participation.

There is a need of discussing such issues on family and village level, he stressed.

A mobile AIDS awareness van would be sent to colleges and universities to make the students aware and would provide free testing facilities, Dhumal said, while complete diagnostic kits would be provided in the remotest areas too.

He also urged the pregnant women to come forward and make check up that can prevent their babies from the infection in the womb through proper treatment.

The efforts of state government would stop further spread of the disease, said the Chief Minister adding that he had already indicated this in his last budget speech.

According to official stats, the administration has found 477 cases of full-blown AIDS so far, with 2,511 cases of HIV infection and AIDS disease have emerged rapidly in the state.

But, for making HIV test mandatory for all bride and groom, government would have to pass the bill as Supreme Court has already stated that the test would voluntary in nature not mandatory.