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TASO Mulago
Background
TASO Mulago was the first TASO Centre to be formally established in 1987 by a group of 16 persons who were headed by Noreen Kaleba. The center is six (6) Kms away from the middle of Kampala city and can be accessed from the northern gate of Old Mulago.Originally there was no formal Centre but Counselling and medical support activities were provided to HIV and AIDS patients in the ISS clinic within the Hospital. Most of the service providers were also volunteers. A small room was later acquired within the Polio Clinic, which served as a TASO office.
As the size of the clients increased there was need for more space. A small building consisting of 8 Counselling rooms, 3 medical examination rooms, a laboratory, a drug dispensary, Aromatherapy room, Accounts office, Manager's Office and a Public Relations Office, was put up.However, thanks to the donnors for the support they gave towards construction of a two-storied building in 2003, that houses both TASO Mulago and TASO HeadQuarters. TASO Mulago occupies the ground floor while Headquarters is on the first and second floors.
Staffing:
Today the Centre has 89 permanent staff headed by the Centre Manager, 18 Counsellors, 32 Medical staff, 17 in Administration, 3 Finance department, 03 Social Support and 3 from Data management. this team is supported by 16 volunteers ans 4 part time doctors.
The Centre provides its full range of services covering a number of districts, which include Mukono, Mpigi, Wakiso, Luwero and Kampala within the radius of 75 kms from the Centre.
Services:
The Centre provides two kinds of programme services: direct and indirect.- Direct Services include: Counselling to People with AIDS (PLWA) and their family members, Medical services including Anti-retroviral Therapy, Social Support which includes Material Assistance to the needy of the neediest, Child support inform of school fees and scholastic materials.
- Indirect services include: Mobilization and training of community volunteers for capacity building and collaboration. Trained community members run communities to offer TASO Like activities like Counselling, condom Distribution, Home care, referrals and AIDS Education, Support supervision to NGOS and CBOs, General Public through AIDS education and sensitization, advocacy on HIV/AIDS issues, Collaboration with Government and other Organizations
Since then the center has trained and empowered fourteen (14) Communities and seven (7) out reaches respectively as below:
Communities trainedSeeta Nazigo, Kyanja, Kawempe, Kisanjufu/Dundu, Busega, Busukuma, Sekiwunga, Mpoma, Mende, Kiira, Gombe, Bukoto, Ntanzi, Goma
| Out reaches | |
| Mende | Wakiso District |
| Kiringette | Wakiso District |
| Kyampisi | Wakiso District |
| Seeta Nazigo | Wakiso District |
| Namulonge | Wakiso District |
| Kasozi | Wakiso District |
| Kyetume | Wakiso District |
Each community has 10 Parish AIDS committee members and 30 AIDS Community Workers. They are empowered to collaborate with the nearest Health center and to create referral systems.
It should be noted at this point that though TASO is a service provider, TASO Mulago as center does not test for HIV but receive already tested cases from various recognized testing sites like AIDS information Centre (AIC), Hospitals, and other recognized testing sites. In order to register with the centre you need to have a test certificate/slip with you.
Challenges faced by counselors
- The stress full nature of work.
- Lack of proper systems of stress management.
- Ever-increasing demand for the services with limited human resource compromises the quality provided.
- Counseling environment is sometimes not conducive.
- Lack of motivation for the trained community volunteers.
- Running four clinics a week at the center
- Out reach clinics twice a month
- Home care for clients who cannot access the services from the center
- Training Health center staff
- Conducting Health talks at the center clinics and at out reaches
- AIDS awareness in communities in conjunction with the drama group and counseling department
- Support and supervision to Health centers
- Offering Aromatherapy
Networking:
TASO Mulago has functional relationship with most organization in the field of HIV/AIDS care and management like AIC, Mild May, JCRC, Kyamokya Children care center, Ministry of Health, director of Health services in Kampala etc.through collaborating and networking with other NGOs/CBOS within Uganda and abroad,we have benefited alot through information sharing.
Contact
Mrs. Florence A. Odoch (Manager)
TASO Mulago
P.O.Box 11485 Kampala, Uganda
TEL: 256-41-530034
Email: TASO Mulago center
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