Etukoit Bernard Michael

Role(s) / Profession(s)

Organization

• The AIDS Support Organization - TASO
  Website: http://www.tasouganda.org/ Type: Non-Governmental Organization Country: Uganda About: 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.

Work Location(s)

• Uganda

Etukoit 's Communities

Language(s)

• English