Couples Must Test for HIV – Christian Body. 20/10/10

All couples intending to get married must test for HIV

New Vision

All couples intending to get married must test for HIV, the Uganda Joint Christian Council (UJCC) has proposed to Parliament.

“It is important for people to enter into the marriage institution with informed consent and knowledge of all relevant or material facts,” said the executive secretary, the Rev. Fr. Dr. Silvester Arinaitwe.

He was presenting UJCC’s proposals on the HIV and AIDS Prevention and Control Bill, 2010 to the social services committee of Parliament yesterday.

Last year, reports showed that in Uganda, HIV/AIDS cases were increasing among married couples. Also in 2008, 43% of all new infections were among partners of ‘monogamous’ marriages, usually considered a low risk group.

“We do note that the media has reported cases of health practitioners, especially in private testing centres, accepting bribes to give negative status results for people who are HIV-positive,” Arinaitwe stated.

UJCC proposes that the Bill penalises those who accept bribes to release falsified results. Present were UJCC officials.

The private members’ Bill by the standing committee on HIV/AIDS seeks to provide for a legal framework geared towards the prevention and control of the disease, reducing its transmission and creating offences for willful and intentional transmission, among others.

Committee chairperson, Dr. Brian Asimwe said the proposal on mandatory testing for couples was too strict.