| ||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
About TASO
Background
The AIDS Support Organization (TASO) was founded in 1987 by Noerine Kaleeba and 15 other colleagues some of whom have now passed away due to AIDS.The founding of TASO was based on people that were unified by common experiences faced when encountering HIV/AIDS at a time of high stigma, ignorance and discrimination. The founders met informally in each other’s homes or offices to provide mutual psychological and social support. Cohesion among these was strengthened by the fact that they were either directly infected with HIV or implicitly affected because their very close familial associates were infected. One distinguished feature about the founder members was that they voluntarily used their time and other resources to visit AIDS patients, carrying them to the hospital and some times providing basic material and counseling support.
Today TASO is the largest indigenous NGO providing HIV/AIDS services in Uganda and Africa, having supported over 200,000 directly since its inception.The organisation has 11 service centers spread in Uganda, with now 15 "mini-TASOs" in other parts of the country that are outside TASO's catchment area of 75Km from the nearest service center. A mini TASO is a public Health unit that provides TASO-like services. TASO has given 20,000 clients ARVs including 600 children since we rolled out Antiretroviral Therapy in June2004.
Vision:
'A world Without AIDS'
Mission:
TASO exists to contribute to a process of Preventing HIV infection, restoring hope and improving the quality of life of persons families and communities affected by HIV infection and disease
- At Personal Level:
One-to-one counseling, which empowers the infected/affected person to make informed decisions, which improve the quality of life and facilitate the balance between Rights and Responsibilities:
Sensitive and compassionate care which provides early diagnosis and treatment of opportunistic infections and enhances living positively and dying with dignity. - At Family Level:
Counseling for the family members, which dispels their fears of contracting HIV through casual contact, facilitates care of the infected and affected persons and prepares the family for and supports them during bereavement.
Facilitation of provision of home nursing care and nutritional materials. - At Community Level:
Community counseling which empowers the community to organise an appropriate response to the problems generated by HIV.
Facilitation of community planned responses, community evaluation of their responses and mobilisation of community resources. - At National And International Level:
'Living Positively with AIDs'
In practical terms, clients are encouraged to:
- Accept their diagnosis
- Seek prompt medical care
- Practice safer sex
- Continue to earn an income
- Plan for the families and dependants
- Seek counselling
- Maintain a balanced diet
- Have adequate sleep and exercise
- Continue with normal social activities
- Avoid harmful habits such as drinking alcohol and smoking
- To offer counselling services to people with HIV/AIDS and their Families
- To train Counsellors for TASO and other organizations and to ensure effective provision of counselling.
- To complement available medical services.
- To sensitise the public and to promote positive attitudes towards people with HIV/AIDS and their families.
- To minimise the social ills caused by HIV/AIDS through material support to clients and their families.
- To build and support community-based efforts initiated to respond to AIDS epidemic.
© Copyright 2003. The AIDS Support Organisation |
