Islamic gov’t forces HIV patients to marry and orders them not to ...

I found this news item very interesting but also ended up a little confused as to what conclusions to arrive at.

According to the report, the Sharia government of a northern Nigerian state, Bauchi, has so far paired up over 150 HIV-positive victims in marriage, over the last few weeks, in an attempt to stop the spread of the disease.

The HIV marriages were arranged in confidentiality. ‘Suitors who have tested positive and are willing to wed each other, can reduce the spread of the virus and also cushion the psychological trauma of isolation.’ Dr Lirwan Mohammed, the executive secretary of the Bauchi Action Committee on Aids has claimed.

I like the fact that the government is taking a pro-active approach in dealing with the group of HIV patients in Bauchi state.
The Isolation that results due to the lack of HIV education and  stigma  surrounding HIV  adds a serious unnecessary burden on this group. A community based approach for addressing this isolation is excellent.

But then It stops here...

The Idea of limiting the spread by pairing up willing participants borders on something else.
I start wondering how willing they (the participants) are ,how confidential this really is and ultimately how effective this whole exercise can be.
Having some knowledge of this region I start to wonder if this won't  hinder other  HIV positive people from coming  forward. So overall I'm confused about all this what do you think?

Read the complete article below.

Friday 5 September 2008, by Konye Obaji Ori

The Sharia government of a northern Nigerian state, Bauchi, has so far paired up over 150 HIV-positive victims in marriage, in the last few weeks, in an attempt to stop the spread of the disease.

According to reports, the HIV marriages were arranged in confidentiality. ‘Suitors who have tested positive and are willing to wed each other, can reduce the spread of the virus and also cushion the psychological trauma of isolation.’ Dr Lirwan Mohammed, the executive secretary of the Bauchi Action Committee on Aids has claimed.

People tested HIV-positive in the state are reported to be rounded up and coerced to intermarry, but given the freedom to choose their brides or grooms. The couples after being introduced to each other during arranged counselling sessions had the right to say yes or no to each likely partner but not a right to reject intermarriage with a fellow HIV sufferer.

International Aids experts have voiced concern at the plan and a representative from UNAids has warned that the two people could have dissimilar strains of the virus, which could possibly interact and so the couples should be allowed to use condoms to prevent any complications. The United Nations agency in charge of battling the disease in the country has also urged the couples not to bring forth children as the children are certain to be orphaned.

But the warnings of the United Nations agency and the UNAids representatives cannot be taken as the use of condoms are against the Sharia laws by which the state follows.

Comments

[Aime]

well to be frank, i don't think pairing these patients together is a good idea.for one they could knowingly or unknowingly reproduce, and these children would be homeless and this eventually will result to odious experiences.