A number of Saudi experts, academics, as well as young men and women have called for premarital screenings to be made mandatory as this would help prevent genetic disorders and the transmission of certain diseases among newly-married couples. The experts noted that there is a growing trend among prospective couples to try to bypass the regulation. There are large numbers of young Saudi men and women who still get married despite the high risk of genetic disorders being passed down to their offspring and experts believe this is one of the major reasons for a rise in hereditary and transmittable diseases such as sickle-cell disease and thalassemia in Saudi society, according to a report in Al-Riyadh Arabic daily. In 2004, the Ministry of Health started implementing the Premarital Screening and Genetic Counseling Program as part of a series of measures that sought to reduce cases of genetic disorders in future generations. In 2008, this screening, called the Premarital Medical Test was updated to include mandatory screening for hepatitis B and C and HIV. The new program was renamed the Program of Healthy Marriage and couples are not issued a marriage certificate unless they go to their nearest Marriage Consultation Center and give blood samples. ‘Abide by screenings' Sami Al-Diyab, a laboratory specialist at King Khaled Hospital in Majma, said the main objective of the ministry's program is to compel prospective couples to not marry in the event that either one of them carries such disorders. “In the Gulf states, one out of every 20 people is a carrier of such diseases. In the case of couples who have such diseases, there is a 25 percent chance that they will be passed on to their offspring.” Khaled Al-Mansour, official at the Marriage Consultation Center at the hospital, said prospective couples shall not be allowed to get married without undergoing the screening. Echoing the same view, Ahmed Al-Mazroui, a government official, underlined the need for enforcing mandatory premarital screening strictly, saying “this would ease pressure on health institutions and blood banks across the country, not to mention help prevent many social, psychological and health problems for couples and their children.” “There are some young men and women who undergo tests initially but later refuse them. If the test was incompatible in one case, then they tend to avoid repeating tests the second or third time around so their marriage plans would not be interrupted,” he explained. ‘Enact a law to enforce screening' Hudail Al-Mushaiqeh, a female employee, urged authorities to enact a law for strictly enforcing mandatory premarital screening. “Many couples who avoided undergoing premarital screening have gone on to have children with genetic disorders. They then spend the rest of their lives regretting their decision,” she said. Salma Al-Rathie, a schoolteacher, also underlined the need for spreading awareness among young men and women about the dire need to undergo premarital screening. “The screening and counseling by medical experts will, no doubt, help avert major tragedies in the couples' lives.” ‘I won't marry without screening' Sultan Al-Abdullah, a university graduate, said that he is determined to undergo premarital screening before choosing his life partner. “In case the screening shows I am incompatible with the girl, I will search for another girl and will ensure compatibility through a screening for the second time. I will never put the life of our innocent future generation at risk.” Afraj Al-Faiz, a student in the medical faculty of King Saud University, stressed that all prominent figures in society, especially Islamic scholars, community leaders, and officials have to play a key role in spreading awareness among the younger generation. “They must take decisive actions to ensure the safety and happiness of both family and society.”
