Winifred Bosa.

The Katsina State Council of Islamic Scholars has urged the state government to enact a law compelling intending couples to go for HIV/AIDS test before marriage.

Mr. Shehu Adoro, its secretary, made the appeal when the council paid a courtesy visit to Gov. Aminu Masari on Wednesday in Katsina.

According to him, many couples have become victims of HIV/AIDS because of the absence of such law, adding that Kano and Jigawa are presently benefiting from such law.

“Kano and Jigawa states have enacted such law which now forces intending couples to carry out the test before being joined together.

The states are already reaping the fruits; they have succeeded in reducing the cases of HIV/AIDS among couples,” he said.

Adoro said that the law should also mandate intending couples to go for sickle cell test so as to avoid delivering babies with the disorder.

Earlier, Masari had urged the council to work with his government to modernize the “Almajiri” system of education.

He particularly expressed concern over the lack of shelter for such “Almajiri” children and regretted that most of them sleep on bare floors around street corners.

The governor also said that his administration is ready to work with Islamic scholars to provide water and other necessary facilities for  the children.

He also urged the council to regulate the activities of Islamic preachers to avoid conflicts and breakdown of law and order.