Ranchi, Nov 4 (IANS) Jharkhand Chief Minister Arjun Munda Thursday announced the state government would introduce a pre-marriage blood test for couples in the state.
"We will soon introduce a pre-marriage blood test in the state so that the couples could produce healthy babies," Munda told reporters here.
"Advanced laboratories will be opened in all districts for the test," he added.
Over 70 percent women in Jharkhand suffer from anaemia, according to sources in the state health department.
The pre-marriage test will help the couples lead a healthy married life and produce healthy babies, the department officials said.
Sources said the pre-marriage blood test will help in ascertaining whether either of the partners has major diseases like HIV or AIDS. The blood test will not be made mandatory but the government will promote it, they added.