Iliyasu Abdullahi Bah
The Yobe State House of Assembly has initiated zonal public hearings on groundbreaking legislation that would require compulsory premarital testing for hemoglobin genotype and hepatitis, aiming to reduce the prevalence of sickle cell disease and viral hepatitis transmission.
During hearings held simultaneously in Potiskum (Yobe North) and Gashua (Yobe South), House Speaker Rt. Hon. Chiroma Buba Mashio emphasized the urgency of the bill, citing Yobe’s disproportionately high sickle cell rates linked to limited public awareness and voluntary testing practices.
The proposed law would enforce premarital screening for all couples to prevent genetic disorders and infectious diseases.
The Zonal hearings were strategically organized to incorporate community perspectives and address potential cultural sensitivities.
The Speaker Mashio acknowledged Governor Mai Mala Buni’s backing for this health focused legislative agenda.
Traditional rulers including the emir Potiskum Alhaji Umaru Bubaram, Emir of Machina Alhaji Dr. Bashir Albishir Bukar, and Emir of Yusufari Alhaji Mohammed Zanna II unanimously endorsed the bill as a critical public health intervention.
Hon. Kachalla Ajiya Maina, chairman of the special committee, called for robust stakeholder input to refine the legislation before parliamentary consideration. The initiative reflects Yobe’s proactive approach to combating preventable health crises through policy reform.