Jinja
Committed to serving the communities around JInja
Our History
TASO started working in Jinja – Eastern Uganda – in 1991. It began its operations after Mrs. Anna Magezi and her brother in law, Mr. John Magezi, lost a relative to AIDS in a hospital where they expected to find help.
They visited TASO in Kampala to get ideas on how to set up a TASO like unit in Jinja. After they discovered that some health workers, led by Dr. Patrick Erumuka, in the Jinja Regional Referral Hospital had a similar idea to set up a Special Medical Clinic. The two teams joined forces and set up the TASO unit in Jinja. To date, the unit is still found within the Jinja Hospital premises.
Jinja is located along the transport route linking Kenya to Uganda and eventually Rwanda. It is home to the only hydroelectric dam in Uganda, the Source of the Nile and many of the industries taking advantage of the available electricity. This makes its population transient and at risk of contracting HIV.
Opperations
In 2018, TASO Jinja Center has served and improved the lives of 31957 clients 19861 female and 12096 male, their families and communities.
It operates within a 75km radius catchment area covering the districts of Buvuma, Buikwe, Kayunga, Mukono, Jinja, Mayuge, Luuka, Iganga, Kamuli, Buyende, Kaliro, Namutumba, Bugiri, Namayingo, and Busia by 44 full time staff, 171 Expert clients and 40 volunteers.
TASO Jinja contributes to the TASO Vision of a world without HIV and AIDS by providing a comprehensive package through the following services to children, adolescents, youth and adults (as appropriate);
Psychosocial Services: (adherence counseling, condom/lubricant education and distribution, Gender Based Violence screening, peer counseling, risk reduction counseling, behavior change communication, referral for other psychosocial needs not provided such as economic needs and education)
Clinical Services: (Nutrition monitoring, adherence measurement, Tuberculosis screening, Opportunistic Infections examinations and management, Laboratory investigation (Viral Load and CD4 count); weight monitoring, Mental Health screening and ART provision.
It has also been involved in a number of research studies and collaborations such as;
Prevention with Positives (PWP)
Medical Research Council (MRC)
HARP study and Long Term Outcomes (both under CAPT)
Safer Conception Study (SCS)
Efavirenz Pediatric Dose Optimization (EPDO)
Clinic Days
- Tuesday and Thursday – Community Drug distribution, Client led Drug distribution, follow up on viral load and retention.
1st and 2nd Wednesdays of the month – Mother – baby pair eMTCT clinic, outreaches and follow up of clients
3rd Wednesday of the month – Adolescent clinic
Management Structure
The Center is headed by a Center Programme Manager who is supported by Five (5) heads of departments which are Medical Department, M&E Department, Human Resources and Operation, Psychosocial and Finance departments.
Governance Structure
The Center has a Center Advisory Committee (CAC) made up of Seven (7) members headed by a Chairperson. This is the Center/Community arm of the TASO Organisational Board of Trustees.
The Center also has Clients’ Council made up of 15 members headed by a Chairperson. This is the governing decision making body for all the clients served at the Center whether at the facility or in outreach clinics such as Community Drug Distribution Points.
Funding
The Center’s major sources of funding include;
USAID through URC/RHITES – EC
Friends of TASO Jinja
Interns both national and international
Call to Membership
You too can make a difference in the lives of people infected and affected by becoming a TASO Subscriber Member.
One can become an individual or corporate member and make an annual subscription towards a basket fund. This basket fund was set up to cater for budgeted items that are not covered by the donors.
As a fully registered TASO Subscriber Member you are eligible, among other things, if nominated and elected, to serve on the Center Advisory Committee and eventually the TASO Board of Trustees.
An Annual General Meeting is held every September to give accountability not only to the donors but to the Subscriber Members as well.