Governor Abba Yusuf, of Kano State on Wednesday assented to the Kano State Premarital Health Screening Bill into law.
The new law mandates premarital health screening for all prospective couples in the state.
While signing the law in Kano, Yusuf urged its faithful implementation in order to uphold the sanctity of marriages in Kano State and ensure the birth of healthy offspring, free from any preventable illnesses.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that according to the law, no wedding would be permitted in Kano State without the presentation of a health screening certificate for genotype, hepatitis B and C, HIV/AIDS, and other related conditions.
The law is meant to reduce the likelihood of children being born with underlying health issues such as sickle cell anemia, HIV/AIDS, and hepatitis.
This initiative aligns with the Kano state governor’s commitment to enhancing and providing a conducive environment for the healthcare sector, aiming to 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 also prohibits any discrimination or stigmatization against individuals living with HIV/AIDS, sickle cell anemia, hepatitis, and related conditions.
It is mandated by the law that any individual intending to marry must undergo testing for HIV, Hepatitis B and C, genotype, and any other relevant tests before marriage.
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.
Also, the law specifies that any individual found in violation of its provisions commits an offense and, upon conviction, may face a fine of up to N500,000 fine of for a minimum of five years imprisonment, or both.