Yobe Assembly to make law for compulsory sickle cell, hepatitis tests before marriage

The Yobe State House of Assembly has given accelerated consideration to a bill seeking compulsory tests for sickle cell disease and hepatitis before marriage in the state.

The bill sponsored by members representing Machina, Mamudo, Damaturu Central, Damaturu 2 and Bade West constituencies, Kachalla Ajiya Maina, Mohammed Isa Bello, Nasiru Hassan Yusuf, Buba Ibrahim Kalallawa, and Sanda Kara Bade scaled through second reading on Wednesday.

The member representing Machina constituency, Maina said the bill when passed into law will prevent the spread of sickle cell disease and hepatitis, promote public awareness as well as access to treatment of the diseases.

According to him, the bill has provided provisions for compulsory hemoglobin genotype and viral hepatitis tests before the conduct of any marriage in Yobe State.

Supporting the bill, the majority leader of the House, Nasiru Hassan Yusuf, Bulama Bukar, Buba Ibrahim Kalallawa and Sanda Kara Bade described the sickle cell disease as one of the childhood killer diseases that come with high cost of medication, especially on less privileged members of the society.

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The Speaker, Chiroma Buba Mashio set-up an adhoc committee to work on the bill. The committee is headed by the Chairman House Committee on Health, Kachalla Ajiya Maina.

The committee was given four weeks to work on the bill and report back to the House for further legislative action.