The Kano state government has disqualified intending couples who have tested positive for Hepatitis B, HIV carriers, sickle cell, and pregnancy from participating in the state-sponsored mass wedding.
This was made known by the spokesperson of Hisbah Board, Lawan Fagge, who said the affected persons were diagnosed with one or the other health issues at the point of pre-marital test screening.
Fagge noted the persons had since been screened out from the ongoing exercise and replaced by others.
He, however, added that the disqualified intending couples were subjected to counseling and given medications.
According to him, “This is based on the interim report we got from the Ministry of Health.
“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 counseled 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 counseling and medication.
“We screened about 5,000 out of which we only needed 1,800 couples,” Fagge said.
Recall that earlier, MUK TV reported that the New Nigeria People’s Party, NNPP-led government under Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf earmarked the sum of N854 million for the conduct of mass weddings for the over 1,800 couples in the state.