The AIDS Support Organization (TASO)

A new strategic plan, which started in 2008 and will continue until 2012, is designed to re-invigorate HIV prevention strategies through enhanced partnerships. TASO works to reach this goal by offering counselling services to PLWHA and their families, and through the training of counsellors for TASO and other organisations to ensure effective provision of counselling. In addition, TASO complements available medical services and promotes positive attitudes towards PLWHA and their families. Furthermore, it provides material support to clients and their families to minimise the social ills caused by HIV/AIDS. The organisation also builds and supports community-based efforts initiated to respond to the AIDS epidemic.

Programmes and services offered by TASO include the following:

• HIV/AIDS counselling: The organisation offers: psychological support before and after testing; access to information about HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs); and counselling for family members to promote acceptance and encourage testing.
• Medical care: TASO provides medical care that focuses on prompt and proper diagnosis and treatment of opportunistic infections, tuberculosis, and STIs, as well as free provision of drugs. TASO also provides outreach clinics and day care centres. When necessary, home-based care is provided to bedridden clients.
• Social support: This programme comprises services that seek to mitigate the impact of HIV/AIDS on clients in the areas of child support, sustainable livelihoods, nutritional support, etc.
• Advocacy and networking: This programme aims to increase awareness on various HIV/AIDS-related issues and to influence the attitudes of all those in high positions in society, and, as a result, to contribute positively to the well-being of the infected and affected. TASO's advocacy efforts also aim to sensitise PLWHA and society as a whole to understand the rights and responsibilities of PLWHA.
• Training centres: TASO's training centre coordinates all activities of TASO's training function, which operate in 4 regional offices. The centre offers a wide range of training courses and consultancy services, including counselling, knowledge management, and medical and community care.

The organisation also offers the TASO Experiential Attachment to Combat HIV/AIDS (TEACH) Scholarship, which is designed to implement and coordinate experiential learning activities for HIV/AIDS service providers from private and public institutions of developing countries in Africa. The project concluded its first phase in December 2007, and the grant of 600 scholarships has been renewed for another 3 years (2008-2010). According to organisers, this intervention was motivated by a perceived need by countries most affected by HIV/AIDS to put together a proficient group of service providers to meet the ever-increasing demand for HIV/AIDS care and support.

Since 2003, TASO has held an annual Music, Dance, and Drama (MDD) Festival. The MDD groups of each of the 11 TASO service centres, together with those of partner health centres known as Mini-TASOs, compete amongst themselves in the region to showcase the work they are doing in communities, as well as educate the surrounding population on HIV/AIDS messages based on the theme of the year. The TASO MDD groups are composed of PLWHA who have decided to go public about their sero-status and to freely share their experiences with others. They go to schools, markets, and other communities to educate people through personal testimonies, music, dance, and drama.

HIV/AIDS

TASO's achievements include: Over 200,000 people and their family members have gone through TASO's care since inception; over 23,000 people (including 1,000 children) have received anti-retroviral therapy from TASO's 11 service centres; and 65,162 household members have been reached through home-based HIV counselling and testing (HBHCT).