Benue State governor Samuel Ortom has explained that he appointed his wife, Dr Eunice Erdoo Ortom, chairperson of the State AIDS Control Agency to keep its issues close to his heart.

He spoke at the Ibrahim Babangida Public Square in Makurdi yesterday during the ceremony to mark the 2015 World Aids Day.

He said, “Having worked in the agency as an administrative officer and gender focal person on HIV/AIDS she is not new to its operations. My reason for doing so is to keep HIV/AIDS issues close to my side and to my heart.”

He expressed appreciation to partners and stakeholders for deploying their resources to fight the menace assuring that the campaign would continue until victory is fully won.

“I am optimistic that with this coalition of efforts there is hope that Benue will be the first State in the Federation to record zero prevalence in HIV,” Ortom added .

In her own comment , Mrs Ortom said the ceremony was aimed at increasing awareness and education on prevention tips, advice and transfertilise ideas in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

She stated that the global body has set targets which require to test at least 90 per cent of the general population and put the same percentage on the right treatment while ensuring that those on treatment adhere to it.

Executive Secretary of the Benue State AIDS Control Agency, Mrs Grace Ashi Wende, listed reduction of stigma and discrimination, creation of more awareness about personal risk and predisposing conditions and generally closing the gap that existed among the population in the last seven years as some agency’s achievements.