Johor made tests compulsory for couples in 2001

NST: JOHOR BARU: The Johor Religious Department made HIV screening compulsory for Muslim couples in 2001. Of the 114,380 people screened since then, only 198 have tested positive.
Johor mufti Datuk Nooh Gadot said the idea was mooted in 1998, and it took three years to conduct a proper study and put the infrastructure in place.
"The idea received strong backing by the State Government and full co-operation from the State Health Department," he said.
All those in Johor, and those marrying people from Johor even if the wedding is held outside the State, must be screened. Couples first register with the Religious Department, then go for an HIV Rapid Test at any government clinic in Johor.
If the first test, which takes about 30 minutes, is negative the person is considered free of HIV, otherwise a second Rapid Test is conducted. If the second test shows a positive result, a blood sample is taken for further screening.
If an individual is diagnosed as HIV-positive, the couple are called for counselling by both the Religious Department and State Health Department.
"We work closely with the State Health Department. They discuss the medical aspects of HIV with the couple, while on our part we talk about the spiritual aspects," Nooh said.
The tests are confidential, and only the couple are told the results. Couples are not barred from getting married in the event of a positive result.
"An HIV-positive result comes as a shock to many. These couples need spiritual and motivational counselling to help them decide whether or not to get married.
"The counselling sessions are to motivate couples who are faced with the harsh realities of HIV.
"Whether or not they should marry is entirely up to them. We are here to guide and support their decision," he said.
Because of the confidentiality of the tests, Nooh was unable say how many couples had decided to go ahead with marriage and how many had not.
"If they do get married, we continue to give them moral support through counselling."
"On another level," he continued, "HIV screening acts as an indirect anti-dadah and anti-vice campaign. It makes youths think twice about getting involved in activities that could lead to HIV infection."
On Wednesday, Islamic Development Department (Jakim) director-general Datuk Mustapa Abdul Rahman said all State Governments had agreed in principle with the department’s proposal to screen Muslim couples before marriage.
At least eight States have either implemented or are in the process of implementing the move this year, he said.
Selangor is the latest to join Kelantan, Terengganu, Perak, Johor, Perlis, Kedah and Pahang in agreeing to have compulsory HIV/AIDS screening.
Mustapa said that so far, only 0.03 per cent of couples who underwent voluntary screening had been found to have HIV/AIDS.