Materia Medica Malaysiana

HIV/AIDS tests for Muslims

Muslim couples planning to marry in Kelantan will have to undergo compulsory HIV/AIDS tests from Jan 1 due to an increase in its incidence.
State Islamic Development and Propagation committee chairman Hassan Mohamood said the ruling included prospective spouses from other States.
He said the couple would be counselled on the risks and consequences involved if tests prove positive.
"It is then up to them to decide if they still want to proceed with their marriage," Hassan told reporters here today.
Kelantan is the third State after Johor and Perlis to introduce compulsory HIV/AIDS testing for prospective Muslim couples.
Under the ruling, the test results must be produced when they register for marriage courses which are compulsory.
He said free HIV/AIDS screening was available at government hospitals but a RM5 fee may be introduced in future.
Hassan said the State Health and Religious departments had noticed a rise in HIV and AIDS cases in the state, especially among Muslims aged between 20 and 30 years.
In most cases, the disease was contracted through intravenous dadah abuse and high-risk sexual behaviour.
He said the ruling was proof of the State Government’s commitment to protecting the marriage and family institution.
State Health Department statistics showed that 4,441 people in the state had been infected with HIV/AIDS between 1996 and February this year.
The number of patients had been steadily rising since 1996 (260 patients), 1997 (262), 1998 (294), 1999 (354), 2000 (379), 2001 (426), 2002 (659), 2003 (684) and last year (921).
There were 202 patients registered in the first two months of this year.