Public debate on pre-marital aids/HIV testing on in Goa

Panaji, May 12 (UNI) Majority of the women has come out strongly against the pre-marital testing for HIV/AIDS as a public debate on the issue mooted by the State government before enacting a legislation for making testing compulsory, has sparked off a debate in Goa.

Some felt that the couples should undergo counselling before marriage but testing for HIV/AIDS be made voluntary as they felt disclosure of information in case of positivitity meant violation of right to privacy.

Health Minister Dayanand Narvekar, who originally proposed the legislative measure, told UNI that the government would take a final decision after considering the overall opinion of the public in the July session of the State Legislative Assembly.

He however, made it clear that the government was keen to introduce the legislation so that the scourge of HIV/AIDS would not spread to with the prospective couples in Goa.

He felt Goa, being a small but an International tourist state, should take the lead in such sensitive issues in the overall interest of the health of the citizens.

UNI BM MJ YA RK0848