Health check-up

cctv.com 12-31-2003 10:46

Since October 1 National Holiday, marriage registration offices in major cities have seen a sharp increase in the number of applicants for marriage and divorce. Meanwhile, the once crowded facilities conducting health checks for marriage applicants have far less people than previous months. Why is there such a huge contrast and what is causing the great difference?

It has been a tradition for Chinese to wed on big holidays such as national day, May Day, New Year's Holiday and Lunar New Year. This year is special. Especially since the Oct. 1st national day, marriage registration offices in major Chinese cities have been crowded with applicants for marriage and divorce. Yet, health check-up stations for marriage applicants are showing a rather different picture. They have been deserted for the past two months. Some have already been closed. The up coming New Year holiday will make the difference even more obvious. We鈥檒l take you to some of these places and find out why.

A tolerant and more relaxed policy doesn't mean to giving unlimited freedom to an individual. It calls for self-discipline, honesty and trust from each and every citizen. It is a cherished dream shared by all to walk into the Palace of Marriage. Now, with no surveillance from the government and the public, trust and honesty will become the major pillars of a happy marriage in the years to come. Now it is up to the individual to decide whether to use the newfound freedom in a responsible manner.

On October 1, the Ministry of Civil Affairs published the new Marriage Registration Regulations. A noticeable change from the old regulation issued in 1994 is that healths check certificates and letters of approval from employers are no longer necessary documents for marriage registration applicants. Health check before marriage registration has become voluntary. The public respond varies, but the overwhelming majority of people are overjoyed with the decision that the government is giving more freedom of choice to an individual regarding to their health, privacy and respect. People call it another giant step towards human rights.

An Engineer Li Ming said, 鈥淟etters of approval from the employer is eliminated from the procedure. It's very good. Marriage has nothing to do with employer. It is good that the old tradition is abolished. Plus, it simplifies the procedure. It's more human, an act of improvement in the process of China's reform and opening up."

Mr. Li and his fiance plan to get married around New Year. Today, they volunteered to receive health checks at the Health Care Center for Women and Children in Beijing's Chaoyang District.

Wang Jianli, Human Resource Manager, said, "I think it is necessary to get a health check before getting married. The items for this are different from the general health check received at work. No illness is good news. If diseases are diagnosed, they can be treated early. "

Li Ming said, "Health checks are necessary. It shows both parties are responsible for each other."

The couple has just gone through the procedure. The total cost is 291 yuan, or 37 USD, a price urban residents can afford, but is quite a burden for people in rural areas. Health checks prior to marriage have never been popular in rural areas due to limited medical facilities. Then what items actually are on the list?

Li: "Blood test, andrology items, blood pressure, urine test and chest X-ray."

Fianc茅e: "I take a gynecology check, instead. The rest is the same."

According to Doctor Liu Zhenshun at the Woman and Children Hospital of Chaoyang District, HIV/AIDs, sexually transmitted diseases and highly contagious diseases are primary items for checkup.

Liu Zhenshun, Doctor of Women and Children Hospital of Chaoyang Dist., Beijing, said, "We have in the past detected many diseases which could have a bad influence on the marriage. A couple, both had hyperthyrea, once came here for health check. Neither of them was aware of the disease they had. We suggested they go to a higher-level hospital. They were reluctant to go. Such disease is harmful to babies. If they hadn't come for a health check, they wouldn鈥檛 have known they had the disease."

Offering sex education is another important item included in the health check. After the completion of health check, the new couples may chose to view a taped program on sex education.

A woman said, "Medical check and video are equally important. I regretted missing part of it when I had to take a phone call from work. This is a rare opportunity. Everything relies on knowledge. It鈥檚 a well-produced program."

Where do people get their sex education? Some people think that it is Generally from indecent movies or by listening to radio program. Some people also think that the they get sex education from lectures experts give. A doctor said to us , "Health checkups prior to marrying are important. It's not just something between a new couple, that is, the small family. It matters also for us as a big family, the country and the Chinese nation."

After the publication of the new regulation for marriage registration, statistics showed among the 580-thousand newly weds within the first week of October in Henan province; an average of four couple in each of its cities took health check. In Nanjing, a recent survey was conducted among 256 marriage applicants. 80 percent thought they were healthy and needed not receive health check. 20 percent, aware of their diseases, refused to take health check, fearful their spouses would not agree to marry.

The situation in Hohhot and Baotou in Inner Mongolia looks even worse. The record is almost zero.

In Beijing, the Health Care Hospital for Women and Children of Chaoyang District, one of the largest hospitals specialized in health check for marriage applicants, just closed two of its subsidiaries.

Dr. Liu: "We used to have 70 to 80 couples a day over the New Year period. Now it's reduced to four to five couples a day at the most."

Some complain about their privacy not being respected, or poor services, and extra charges by some hospitals. The new regulation forbids any additional fees being added by the hospital.

It's already late in the afternoon, and the Marriage Registration Office of the Civil Affairs Bureau in Dongcheng District is still busy. Now, new couples don鈥檛 have to worry about obtaining letters of approval from their employers. Identification Cards, Resident Permits, photos and an application form for marriage registration declaration are all the documents needed to get official marriage certificates. The entire process of checking documents takes about 3 minutes, much shorter than before.

Lin Yanhong, Director, Marriage Registration Office, Dongcheng Dist., Beijing.

The government used to take care of all aspects of life for an individual, from birth to death. Now, it gives up. Letters of approval from the employer are no longer suitable in the current situation. Work units used to control staff. Now it only deals with the business, not the people. People belong to the society. Some personal files are kept by Human Resources Exchange Centers or neighborhood committees. Organizations as such have no knowledge of individuals. They are reluctant to issue such letters.

When the certificate of marriage is ready, a private ceremony is held for the new couple against a setting with 9999 red roses. The gowns and suits for the ceremony are provided free for the bride and bridegroom.

As of today, over 1700 couple have become legal husbands and wives here. From this place they will start a new life, a life that includes both more freedom and more responsibility.

Editor:Zhang  Source:CCTV.com