The Maharashtra Health Ministry has unanimously decided to make testing for the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) compulsory before marriage.
The Public Health Minister, Vimaltai Mundada along with 15 MLAs from all political parties, an advocate and two doctors took the decision at a high profile meeting in a bid to control AIDS and also create awareness of AIDS across the State.Sensitive issues like the social stigma attached to the test and human rights issue were discussed at length in the two-hour meeting of the committee.
The urgency to educate the school students about HIV was emphasized by Dr Vimaltai Mundada the state health minister.
The Maharashtra Law Graduate Association (MLGA) extends full support to the State Government in drafting and implementing the law.
The law will be enforced within the next six months.
A joint decision will be taken later as to whether couples will need to produce their medical certificate at the time of the registration of marriage.”
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