Compulsory HIV Tests for couples!

[lookwhaticando]

Compulsory HIV tests for couples

The government of India's Andhra Pradesh state says a new law will soon make it compulsory for couples to take an HIV test before marriage.

Chief Minister Reddy led by example

at the HIV test

"Those who want their marriage to be registered should get the HIV/Aids test done," said health minister K Rosaiah.

He was speaking as state assembly members underwent public HIV tests to encourage awareness of the virus.

India has the world's highest number of HIV infections, the UN says. Andhra Pradesh is one of its worst-hit states.

[...]

BBC News | South Asia

Seems like a reasonable attempt at stemming the spread. I have doubts about it, mind.

What use will it have? I mean, if they fail their HIV test are they stopped from being married? If so, that's a cruel way of trying to stem the spread... after all, there's no reason for not having it away with someone just because you're not married. Obviously it depends on how strong your faith is - the whole sex out of marriage lark.

Also, if they're not stopped from getting married, how will you stop them spreading it anyway? If they want kids, they'll try to have kids... you need a strong education system to back that up, encourage them that kids are a no-no.

There's plenty of ifs and buts about it, but it's a step in the right direction - gathering information at least is better than nothing at all.

[Manwell Pablo]

BBC News | South Asia

Seems like a reasonable attempt at stemming the spread. I have doubts about it, mind.

What use will it have? I mean, if they fail their HIV test are they stopped from being married? If so, that's a cruel way of trying to stem the spread... after all, there's no reason for not having it away with someone just because you're not married. Obviously it depends on how strong your faith is - the whole sex out of marriage lark.

Also, if they're not stopped from getting married, how will you stop them spreading it anyway? If they want kids, they'll try to have kids... you need a strong education system to back that up, encourage them that kids are a no-no.

There's plenty of ifs and buts about it, but it's a step in the right direction - gathering information at least is better than nothing at all.

It might not be to stop the spread it might be to make sure the right drugs are used on the infected mothers to prevent the children getting it, I believe thats possible, so kids might not be a no no.

Secondly your chances of getting it from sleeping with the dirty slag round the corner once is something like one in fifty, it's people who have regular sex with infected partners (i.e married couples) that are most at risk.

Besides it's one way of making sure people get tested.

[Joe.]

Seems like a pretty good idea. Nothing bad can come of it anyway so it can't be bad really?

[lookwhaticando]

It might not be to stop the spread it might be to make sure the right drugs are used on the infected mothers to prevent the children getting it, I believe thats possible, so kids might not be a no no.

Secondly your chances of getting it from sleeping with the dirty slag round the corner once is something like one in fifty, it's people who have regular sex with infected partners (i.e married couples) that are most at risk.

Besides it's one way of making sure people get tested.

Definitely.

Such a scheme has it's merits, and if the information collected is used effectively, it can make quite a difference I'm sure.

And that's a good first point - didn't occur to me first time around.

[cisono]

Interesting but I doubt it will make much difference

[Dr The Singh]

The issue is who's going to pay for it, and who's going to police it!!

The value of life India is very low, the poor will obviously lose out!!!