Yobe Assembly initiate bill on compulsory HIV test for intending couples

by Chi Ibe

The Yobe State House of 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, speaker, Dala Dogo, said on Thursday.

While addressing the ‘Network for People Living with HIV’ Dogo also announced that its legislators will go 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.

According to reports, chairman of Network for People Living with HIV’, Ali Baba urged government to engage members of the organisation in intervention programmes against HIV for effective fight against the scourge.

“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.