The increasing cases of HIV infection in Africa has prompted some Christians in Nigeria to require HIV test results before getting married. The practice aims to prevent the spread of HIV, rather than punish those living with the virus. This rule is being spearheaded by the country’s Baptist church, with Daniel Gbadero of the Baptist Awareness against AID Programmed as its chief proponent.
Couples wanting to get married would take an HIV test about nine months to a year before their wedding. If one of them is positive, the couple is asked if they still want to go ahead. Most of the time, the couples would break up in case one of them turns out to be HIV-positive. Gbadero said in an interview that such breakups help prevent the spread of the virus, whichever way you look at it. However, if both partners turn out to be positive, the church would not hesitate into marrying them.
Meanwhile, Muslims in the country’s oil-rich southern states have been practicing HIV testing before marriage for some time. Zubairu Gambo of the Alese Society against HIV/ AIDS stated that he would like the Muslim religious leaders in the predominantly-Muslim northern states to embrace the idea of HIV testing before marriage.
"You don’t discuss sex before marriage in the north-or even when you are married-while in the south you do," Gambo said in an interview. He believes that compulsory pre-marital testing would help tackle the low levels of AIDS awareness in the northern states, which he believes contributes to the relatively high HIV prevalence there.
However, not everyone agrees with the idea. Grace Anya of Fortress 4 Women, a women’s rights NGO in the northern city of Kano, condemns the compulsory testing, fearing that churches may misuse them. "They can force you to go for an HIV test, even against your wishes, and there is no guarantee those results will stay confidential," she said.
Anya also argues that HIV is being singled out before marriage while there are other terminal diseases such as malaria and tuberculosis; mainly because of the perceived stigma that having HIV meant that the person is promiscuous. She, however, encourages people to know their status as well as take advantage of the rollout of antiretroviral drugs. The Nigerian authorities are publicly opposed to compulsory testing, with a new anti-stigma bill being drafted in the national assembly aims to make the practice illegal.
Nigeria has an overall HIV prevalence rate of 4.4 percent, with its 140 million people evenly split between Muslims and Christians.
Posted in
Wow!…
A very awesome post….
The other day, while I was at work, my sister stole my iphone and tested to see if it can survive a 30 foot drop, just so she can be a youtube sensation. My apple ipad is now broken and she has 83 views. I know this is entirely off topic but I had to share it with someone!
Scholarships For Women…
[...]in the following are a handful of web page links to webpages which we link to since we think these are truly worth checking out[...]…
Sources…
[...]check below, are some totally unrelated websites to ours, however, they are most trustworthy sources that we use[...]……
Aw, this was a really nice post. In thought I would like to put in writing like this moreover – taking time and actual effort to make an excellent article… however what can I say… I procrastinate alot and certainly not appear to get something done.
Informative and precise…
Its difficult to find informative and accurate information but here I found…
I enjoy the efforts you have put in this, thanks for all the great posts.
imaginetoys.com promo code…
[...]HIV Test Before Nigerian Marriage | VD[...]…
Tumblr…
Tumblr linked to this place…
greenpeace 2012 wall calendar…
[...]actually listen to real experts other than those over paid [...]…
Websites you should visit…
I really liked your blog, appreciate the great information….
ablate…
hey really nice post ..you have good writing skills……
Favorite website…
[...] often posts certain quite interesting stuff such as this. For anyone who is not used to this blog [...]…
Hi there! I’m at work browsing your blog from my new iphone 4! Just wanted to say I love reading through your blog and look forward to all your posts! Carry on the excellent work!
wedding celebrant melbourne…
[...]HIV Test Before Nigerian Marriage | VD[...]…
I like this weblog so much, saved to my bookmarks .
Amazing site…
I really liked your blog, thanks for sharing this useful information……
I am curious to find out what blog platform you have been utilizing? I’m experiencing some small security problems with my latest blog and I would like to find something more secure. Do you have any solutions?
Hi…
It’s hard to find knowledgeable people on this topic, but you sound like you know what youfre talking about! Thanks…
Hello there! I know this is kinda off topic but I was wondering which blog platform are you using for this site? I’m getting fed up of Wordpress because I’ve had issues with hackers and I’m looking at alternatives for another platform. I would be great if you could point me in the direction of a good platform.
Thank you…
I was very pleased to find this web-site.I wanted to thanks for your time for this wonderful read!! I definitely enjoying every little bit of it and I have you bookmarked to check out new stuff you blog post….
Great website…
Cool post, I really enjoyed reading it. I will check out your site for some more content on this subject….
Favorite sites…
[...] Here is a wonderful blog you will probably find intriguing that we really encourage you [...]…
Best additions…
[...] just below, are numerous totally not affiliated sites to ours, in spite of this, they are definitely worth talking about [...]…
Thanks you…
There are some interesting points in time in this article but I donft know if I see all of them center to heart. There is some validity but I will take hold opinion until I look into it further. Good article , thanks and we want more! Added to FeedBur…
Awesome site…
[...] pursuing are a handful of links to online websites which I truly connect to because we presume these are worthwhile checking out [...]…
Thank you…
This really answered my problem, thank you!…
What you deserve is what you get
Arigatou…
Hello! I just would like to give a huge thumbs up for the great info you have here on this post. I will be coming back to your blog for more soon….
Websites you should visit…
I really liked your blog, appreciate the great information….
*There are certainly a lot of details like that to take into consideration. That is a great point to bring up. I offer the thoughts above as general inspiration but clearly there are questions like the one you bring up where the most important thing will be working in honest good faith. I don?t know if best practices have emerged around things like that, but I am sure that your job is clearly identified as a fair game. Both boys and girls feel the impact of just a moment’s pleasure, for the rest of their lives.
Thanks…
Can I just say what a relief to find someone who actually knows what theyre talking about on the internet. You definitely know how to bring an issue to light and make it important. More people need to read this and understand this side of the story. I …
Amazing site…
I really liked your blog, thanks for sharing this useful information……
Hello!…
An interesting discussion is worth comment. I think that you should write more on this topic, it might not be a taboo subject but generally people are not enough to speak on such topics. To the next. Cheers…
aalii…
wholesale pandora jewelryIf you want to look trendy and be part one of the fashion world…
Thanks for all your efforts on this blog. Kate takes pleasure in carrying out internet research and it is simple to grasp why. A lot of people know all regarding the lively mode you render effective guidelines via this web site and increase response from the others on the topic so my princess is certainly becoming educated a lot of things. Have fun with the rest of the new year. You are always performing a terrific job.
will smith posters uk…
[...]took the item. ” In reality, whether or not it can be about your mouth officer, or tibia and leg guards, it is [...]…
Digg…
While checking out DIGG yesterday I found this…
Can I just say what a reduction to seek out someone who really knows what theyre speaking about on the internet. You undoubtedly know methods to carry a problem to gentle and make it important. More individuals must learn this and perceive this side of the story. I cant believe youre not more common because you definitely have the gift.
I’m extremely impressed with your writing skills and also with the layout on your weblog. Is this a paid theme or did you modify it yourself? Anyway keep up the excellent quality writing, it is rare to see a nice blog like this one these days…
Great webpage…
[...] I’d tried over some blogs for fresh ideas and therefore I did [...]…
hello…
you have a great blog here! would you like to make some invite posts on my blog?…
Great blog…
The next time I read a blog, I hope that it doesnt disappoint me as much as this one. I mean, I know it was my choice to read, but I actually thought youd have something interesting to say. All I hear is a bunch of whining about something that you coul…
Hey there! I just wanted to ask if you ever have any problems with hackers? My last blog (wordpress) was hacked and I ended up losing many months of hard work due to no backup. Do you have any solutions to prevent hackers?
Just Looking…
When we were browsing very much this Monday we noticed a very good long article about…
lawful graile oberstein weiring sizzlin change butter bodines archdiocese
Amazing site…
I really liked your blog, thanks for sharing this useful information……
Websites worth visiting…
I enjoyed reading your article, many thanks….
Hello there! Would you mind if I share your blog with my zynga group? There’s a lot of people that I think would really enjoy your content. Please let me know. Cheers
Recent Blogrolls……
[...] If you would like additional information in regards to this issue, more information about today’s problem is accessible on [...]…