Kano State Assembly passes Pre-Marital Health Screening Bill into law

Kano State House of Assembly has passed a bill for a law to mandate intending couples to undergo HIV, hepatitis, and sickle cell anemia screening before marriage.

The passage followed deliberations in the Committee of the Whole House during the plenary session, presided over by the Speaker, Ismail Falgore in Kano, on Monday, April 29.

The lawmakers approved the 3rd reading of the bill, read by the Deputy Clerk, Nasiru Magaji, after deliberations.

Shortly after the passage of the bill, Lawan Hussein (NNPP-Dala), the Majority Leader of the house, stated that “any person
intending to marry shall first submit self for medical examinations.”

He said the bill was considered and passed after the 3rd reading, following the relevant and appropriate legislative processes.

The leader further said that the bill was passed because the state had been battling with different health issues – including
HIV – because people go into marriages without medical screening.

He said the bill if signed into law, would save countless lives and curb the avoidable spread of life-threatening diseases.

“The bill will safeguard the health of citizens by institutionalizing pre-marital testing to check the spread of diseases
like hepatitis, HIV, and sickle cell anemia,” he added.