Yobe Assembly Pushes 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.

Recall that the State Assembly had assured that it will grant accelerated passage to the bill, titled “Anti Stigma Bill Amendments for Sickle Cell Disease, Hepatitis and Related Matters Screening Before Marriage in Yobe 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.

He added that the bill has provided provisions for compulsory hemoglobin genotype and viral hepatitis tests before the conduct of any marriage in Yobe State.

Lawmakers, including Majority Leader Nasiru Hassan Yusuf and members Bulama Bukar, Buba Ibrahim Kalallawa, and Sanda Kara Bade, also emphasised the burden of sickle cell disease on vulnerable populations.

They noted that it’s a leading childhood killer disease with exorbitant medication costs, disproportionately affecting the less privileged.

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

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