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"Negri makes pre-marital HIV test a
must for Muslims"
The
Star (www.thestar.com.my)
(29/05/07)
SEREMBAN: From Friday, all Muslim couples getting married will have to
undergo HIV tests in government clinics, Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamad
Hasan said.
“We want the couples to be free of any problem that can affect their family
relationship,” he said.
He said HIV and AIDS were among the top five diseases reported in the state,
with 109 new cases reported last year but many cases went unreported because
the victims had not gone for health checks.
Mohamad said 80% of the 1,300 Muslim couples who attended pre-marital
courses last year were supportive of the tests to stem the spread of
HIV/AIDS.
“This shows that prospective brides and grooms accept the idea and are
conscious of their health,” he said when contacted.
Johor was the first to implement the ruling in 2001 before other states
followed suit.
“We will offer counselling and advice to those with HIV/AIDS to make them
change their lifestyle,” he said.
Mohamad said that in the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) report, it was
stated that Malaysia had achieved all development targets except that of
overcoming the HIV/AIDS issue.
“Malaysia is among the countries which are not free from HIV and AIDS due to
the problems of drug misuse and the practice of free sex,” he said.
Mohamad said statistics from the Health Ministry’s AIDS and Sexually
Transmitted Diseases division showed that 70,559 HIV cases were reported
between 1986 and December 2005.
Some 10,663 patients had developed AIDS, of which 8,179 died.
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