Gom Mirian
A reproductive health expert, Dr. Ejike Oji, has lauded the Kano State Government over its plans to introduce compulsory pre-marital tests for intending couples to prevent the spread of inheritable diseases in the state.
In an exclusive interview with Africa Health Report (AHR) on Saturday, Dr. Oji said: “Pre-marital screening is a very important component for reducing the incidence of hereditary disorders and genetic diseases in the population. It is well established that some people carry inheritable diseases that they may not even know about, and if they get married and have children, their offsprings may also inherit those conditions.”
He also urged other states in Nigeria to emulate the example of Kano state and introduce similar measures to ensure that people are taking responsibility for their health and the health of their children.
In addition to screening for inheritable diseases, the Kano government also disclosed that it will conduct HIV and hepatitis tests as part of the pre-marital screening process. This, Dr. Oji believes, will reduce the incidence of these diseases in the state.
He added, “We know that HIV and hepatitis are major public health concerns in Nigeria and this move by the Kano State government is commendable. It will help to ensure that people take necessary precautions to protect themselves and their partners from these diseases.”
According to a report by Kano Focus, the Kano State Government has commenced pre-marital screening of 1,800 prospective couples. It added that the eight different types of tests are to be conducted include genotype, HIV/AIDS, hepatitis A, B and C, syphilis, among others.
