Deputy's Initiative
Torobekova suggested this measure as a way to combat the spread of HIV and hepatitis, citing the experience of Uzbekistan, where such a practice is already in place to prevent the infection of partners.She noted: "In Moscow, infections occur, and young people, upon returning home, may infect their spouses, knowing their condition but not disclosing it." The deputy also emphasized the need to raise public awareness about the ways diseases are transmitted.
Expert Opinion
The editorial team of Kaktus.media reached out for a comment from Galina Chirkina, Executive Director of the "Alliance for Reproductive Health."Chirkina expressed doubt about the effectiveness of the proposed measure, asking: "What next? Will we require proof of no debts before entering into marriage?" In her opinion, medical examinations are a personal matter for each individual, unless they are related to professions where health must be checked regularly.
She emphasized that "if one does not undergo examination, the marriage may not be registered, which calls into question the very essence of this initiative." According to Chirkina, instead of this, focus should be on educational programs regarding health from an early age, so that young people take an interest in their health status themselves.
"Research should be conducted regularly, not just before marriage," she added.Chirkina also noted that the deputy's initiative could create a barrier to marriage, which would not solve the problem of spreading infections. "Such measures do not work. Prohibitions and barriers do not solve problems," she stated.
"People do not ask the state whether they are allowed to have sex," the expert emphasized.In her opinion, many marriages arise from already established relationships and commitments, so such an initiative is more likely to distance us from solving the problem than to bring us closer to it. Chirkina cited the example of Estonia, where women can undergo free cervical cancer screenings based on their year of birth, significantly increasing the level of prevention.
"What the deputy proposes is not motivation; on the contrary, it demotivates," she believes.Chirkina called for separating marriage issues from disease prevention and emphasized that the state should have provided young people with the necessary health information in advance.
She also suggested implementing mandatory sexual education in educational institutions and accessible anonymous medical services to create comfortable conditions for young people to approach doctors.
As for Uzbekistan, a medical examination is required before marriage registration, which includes mandatory tests, such as a complete blood count and an HIV test.
Chirkina expressed interest in scientific data on how this practice has helped identify serious infections in Uzbekistan, as she has not heard positive feedback about this measure from local colleagues.
Photo on the main page is illustrative: msn.com.
