Kerala women’s panel wants HIV test before marriage
By IANSMonday, January 10, 2011
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - The Kerala Women’s Commission (KWC) has asked the state government to pass resolutions and, if necessary, a law to ensure that all those who get married undergo an HIV test.
“This is an issue that is affecting the entire humanity and hence adequate measures have to be taken to safeguard all,” KWC chairperson Justice (retd) D. Sreedevi said.
The commission made the request in the wake of several cases where men got married in spite of knowing that they were HIV positive.
KWC submitted an annual report with the recommendations to the state government last week. The panel also asked the government to support the children of the HIV affected.
According to the Kerala State Aids Control Society (KSACS), a total of 55,167 people have been infected by HIV/AIDS in the state.
The HIV prevalence rate in the general population is 0.26 percent, which is less than the national average of 0.34 percent.
The KWC expects that with the budget session of the Kerala assembly scheduled for the first week of next month, their demand will be considered by the government.
