Weddings Cancelled As Intending Couples HIV Positive, Pregnant

It is mass wedding gone sour in Kano where some intending couples have tested HIV positive, Hepatitis B positive or even found pregnant.

It was a state-sponsored mass wedding and part of the routine was to subject the intending couples to various tests to ascertain the state of their health.

Officials were stunned to discover that some were HIV positive, Hepatitis B positive or even pregnant.

Those who failed the test have now been replaced, the spokesperson of Hisbah Board, Lawan Fagge said.

According to him, pre-marital test screening was part of the routing for intending mass wedding couples.

“This is based on the interim report we got from the Ministry of Health.

READ ALSO: How 30% Of Nigerian Women Die from Pregnancy Or Childbirth-Related Causes

“There are about 40 male and female with Hepatitis B. There are those with sickle cell, then there are those who are pregnant and those with HIV carriers. But they will be counselled and given medication for the next months.

“They were rejected from the exercise and there was a replacement. They might be considered if they cope with the counselling and medication.

“We screened about 5,000 out of which we only needed 1,800 couples,” Fagge said.

1,800 couples would participate in the mass weddings, which would be costing the state government the sum of N854 million.

The Eagle reports that mass weddings are advised where the economic condition makes it difficult for people to afford the cost of marital joining.

Although not popular with some cultures, it is however expedient in an economy such as Nigeria’s where prices have soared and salaries stagnated.

READ ALSO: VIDEO: Moment Galatasaray Party At Man Utd’s Backyard After 3-2 Defeat 

The Eagle reports that a  typical Nigerian wedding especially in a Christian setting for example woule require elaborate preparations including the hiring of a hall, lavish entertainment in food and music, as well as offer of gift items.

Intending couples sometimes makes accommodation arrangements for guests, and al these put together could run into several thousands of naira if millions.