Ingush authorities offer to examine all those who enter into marriage for HIV

The authorities of Ingushetia have offered to introduce mandatory testing for HIV-infection for all young people of the republic wishing to enter into marriage.

The offer was made at the sitting of the local Anti-Drug Commission chaired by the head of the republic Yunus-Bek Evkurov.

As noted, the primary cause of AIDS is intravenous drug use; then, the man infects his wife with the HIV-infection; then, their children get into the risk zone, the RIA "Novosti" reports.

"In my opinion, the proposed measure will minimize the number of marriages of these patients. Of course, this won't solve the problem by 100 percent, but it will have a positive impact on the AIDS proliferation in the republic," said Isa Merzhoev, a political analyst.

According to his story, the situation can be dramatically improved, if the clergy also intensify their efforts in this direction, the GTRK (State TV and Radio Company) "Stavropolye" reports.

According to local authorities, last year almost 86,000 residents of Ingushetia were examined for HIV; of them 55 persons were found as HIV-positive, and 80 percent of them – people aged from 20 to 40. In total, as of March 20 this year, Ingushetia had 898 officially registered HIV-infected patients.