Re: Compulsory premarital HIV/AIDS test

We wish to clarify that no part of the newly developed National HIV Prevention Plan stipulates or recommends compulsory HIV testing for intending couples or any group or individuals. The national HIV prevention Plan is essentially a strategic document designed to provide direction for HIV prevention programming in the country.  It focuses on ensuring that […]

We wish to clarify that no part of the newly developed National HIV Prevention Plan stipulates or recommends compulsory HIV testing for intending couples or any group or individuals. The national HIV prevention Plan is essentially a strategic document designed to provide direction for HIV prevention programming in the country.  It focuses on ensuring that the prevention priorities and goals set by the country and the President’s comprehensive response plan (PCRP) are achieved.   One of those critical goals is to avail 80 million men and women knowledge of their HIV status, and there are set standards and approaches for achieving this. Compulsory testing before marriage is not one of them.  
The meeting was intended to afford the stakeholders an opportunity to validate the content of the National Prevention plan which was developed through a consultative process with the states.
  Dr Yakubu Abuabakar, Director of Bauchi State Agency for the Control of AIDS (BASACA) who was among stakeholders  interviewed after the event was quoted to have said that, “intending couple will be made to undergo compulsory HIV test before getting married”.
It is therefore important to note the following:
1.     The new National Prevention Plan does not have any part that stipulates or recommends compulsory HIV testing for intending couples or any group or individuals.
2.     The HIV Counselling and Testing Standard Operational Procedure does not recommend compulsory testing. As a matter of fact, individuals are expected to give consent to be tested before such test can be carried out.
3.     Stakeholders around the country have fought tirelessly to achieve the newly passed Anti-Stigma law by the National Assembly. HIV testing is voluntary; not compulsory.
NACA is using this medium to inform the general public that no one should be compelled to get tested for HIV. However, HIV testing is the gateway to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support and everyone is therefore encouraged to know his status. NACA remains faithful to its mission and mandate to the Nigerian people.

Toyin Aderibigbe, Chief Communications Officer, Corporate Communications Unit National Agency for the Control of AIDS <[email protected]>;