20 Mass Wedding Widows Test HIV Positive In Kano

But for the vigilance of the Hisbah Board of Kano State, the state’s assisted marriage scheme, would have inadvertently led to the spread of HIV/AIDS infections in the state. Its approach paid off as 20 prospective couples under the scheme were stopped from consummating their intending marriage because of their health status.

The Commander General of the Hisbah Board, Sheik Aminu Daurawa, while briefing reporters  Thursday in Kano, said a total of 20 prospective couples were found to be HIV positive when they underwent the mandatory medical check-ups required for the mass wedding of 1,000 widows and divorcees. The ceremony is the third batch in the state.

He explained that the affected women were detected during the medical screening exercise conducted on the prospective brides by the board across the 44 local government areas of the state.

The state government, perhaps in a bid to provide succour to the poor has been arranging and sponsoring mass marriages for widows, widowers and the vulnerable.
As it has turned out, it has become one of the welfare programmes of the Kano State Government, despite criticisms that it is neither a regenerative programme nor does it promote economic productivity or independence. 

But Daurawa said each of the 44 councils would hold the wedding prayer session for 21 couples, while the session for the remaining 76 couples would be conducted in the state capital.

In an interview with reporters in Kano, he also said the board discovered five pregnant women among the 1,000 widows and divorcees who had been slated to participate in the marriage fiesta. Their being pregnant indicates that the women have been having illicit affairs in violation of Sharia law operating in the state,.

Daurawa added that the board had set aside N10 million to be paid as dowries to the brides in addition to providing other essential items for the couples.
In the past, the board had provided basic furniture and cooking utensils to such newly wedded couples, plus some allowance for them to begin a new life.

Daurawa explained that the renowned Kano-based businessman, Alhaji Isiyaka Rabi’u, and the Governor of the Central Bank (CBN), Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, had donated N2 million and N1 million respectively towards the success of the programme.

“A chieftain of the PDP and traditional title holder of Dan-Saran Kano in the state,  Alhaji Gambo Danpass, has also donated 200 bundles of lace fabric to the brides.
“Similarly, Glo Mobile Telecommunications Company has donated 2,000 SIM cards for distribution to the couples,” he said.