Kaduna Assembly make Medical screening for couples compulsory

Kaduna State government has passed into law the pre-medical Examination Bill 2017, that states that makes it illegal to get married without undergoing medical screening in the state.

John Kwaturu, deputy Speaker, who presided over the assembly’s sitting disclosed this on Thursday. He said the law was necessary to protect couples from avoidable diseases.

“It is now unlawful to get married without undergoing medical screening in Kaduna State,” Kwaturu stated.

Recall that last month the house conducted a public hearing on the Bill, seeking to compel would-be couples to conduct medical screening before marriage.

At the event in Kaduna, a non-governmental organization, Maternal and Child Civil Society, backed the proposal, saying that intending couples should be examined for diseases that hinder the well being of children.

Zainàb Umar, coordinator of the group, said the bill, if passed into law would tackle a lot of societal issues around marriages, well being and health of women and children.

“The law should cover diseases such as sickle cell anaemia, to safeguard unborn children,” she said.

Meanwhile Kaduna is not the first state to have tinkered with such a law. In 2016, Willie Obiano, Governor of Anambra State, said intending couples in the state who fail to screen for sickle cell syndrome before formalizing their marriages would be punished.

The governor, who was represented by Joe Akabuike Commissioner for Health, at a ceremony to mark the year’s Sickle Cell Day in Awka, said it was part of the state government’s determination to eradicate sickle cell disease.

The law now compel would-be couples to undergo medical test to determine their health status and compatibility before marriage.

According to Kwaturu, the new law imposes a fine of “not less than One Hundred Thousand Naira(N100.000.00) or imprisonment of not less than six (6) months or both.”

He said that the law now makes it compulsory for couples to undergo medical examination twice before marriage.

Kwaturu said, “First test should be conducted three months before marriage and the second screening two weeks to wedding.

The deputy speaker explained “The law also provides that the medical examination would be conducted simultaneously by both parties in approved health facility.”

“The result of the medical test would be explained to the two parties by the medical doctor, who must issue them with certificate,” he added.

The law provides that “No person shall formalize any marriage contract for any person wishing to marry without medical certificate issued by a qualified medical doctor in respect of both parties,”

The law also states that any person who contravenes any of its provisions commits an offence.

Kwaturu further noted that It was an offence under the law for any health worker or any person to issues false medical result or assist in the issuance of same.

“Such persons shall be liable on conviction to a fine of Two Hundred Thousand (N200.000.00) or imprissoment of not less than one year or both,” he added.

Nuhu Shadalafiya, chairman, House Committee on Information, said “government agencies would sensitise the people to create awareness on provisions of the law.

“Government should ensure serious mobilization before the law takes effect using radio television and the social media. It must ensure that the message is circulated in Churches and Mosques and at ceremonies so that it gets to the grassroots.

“This is important, so that when one is caught contravening the law, there will be no excuse,” he added.