HP mulls mandatory HIV test before marriage

SHIMLA: The Himachal Pradesh government is considering a proposal to make HIV/AIDS tests compulsory before marriages to build a foundation for a healthy society, state chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal has said.
    
Dhumal made the announcement without elaborating on details of the time frame for implementation of the proposal.
    
Inaugurating a month-long state level AIDS awareness campaign initiated by an NGO, Ashadeep, in association with State Health and Family Welfare Department here on Saturday, Dhumal said no endeavour of the government would achieve its objective without the active support of NGOs and society.
    
The newest initiative of the state cannot succeed without the active participation of young couples and full public support, he said.
    
Dhumal further said awareness in society was the need of the hour and the public should be updated about various health problems and dreaded diseases along with the symptoms, besides suggesting remedial steps for a cure.
    
He also emphasised on the need of discussing such issues at family and village levels.
    
Himachal Pradesh has about 477 cases of full-blown AIDS at present with 2,511 cases of HIV infection.