TASO's core business includes HIV/AIDS counseling, Medical care, Social support, Training and Capacity Building, AIDS Education and community mobilization, and Advocacy and networking.

Counseling is the oldest service offered by TASO and is the basis upon which the organization was founded.

TASO provides psychosocial support in pretest, post test, prevention, and supportive aspects of HIV/AIDS counseling. This service is effective in providing accurate information about HIV/AIDS, STDs, treatment, Family Planning, human rights, appropriate referral Services centers as well as enhancing living positively with HIV/ AIDS. It also promotes prevention of further spread of HIV.

Counseling in TASO is accessed by individuals, couples, children and family members of index clients.

Counseling takes place at all the TASO established service centers, outreach clinics, homes of clients and at hospitals where TASO provides support.

Each client in TASO is attached to a counselor and there is a lot of mutual trust between the two where principles of different levels of confidentiality are observed. Counseling is always extended to the members of the clients' family in order to promote acceptance of care of people with HIV/AIDS and encouragement to those who may still be in fear of finding out their HIV Sero-status. It also becomes very helpful during bereavement. 

MEDICAL CARE 

The medical care provided to TASO clients focuses on prompt and proper diagnosis and treatment of opportunistic infections. Systems have been put in place to manage opportunistic infections.

Septrine prophylaxis and safe water vessel are provided to clients in order to reduce occurrences of some opportunistic infections.

Particular emphasis is put on early detection and treatment of tuberculosis and STDs.

Regarding the Anti-retroviral therapy (ART) program a lot is done to ensure that adherence to treatment is observed. Close collaboration and sharing of information with other ART providers is key in avoiding duplication of this service.

Alternative therapy in form of Aromatherapy and reflexology has proved to be beneficial to all who have received it. Many clients with poor skin conditions, pain, anxiety and depression have been relieved using this alternative therapy.

HOME-BASED CARE 

Where and when necessary, home-based care is provided to bedridden clients. During home visits relatives/home caregivers are provided with information by TASO trained community Volunteer nurses or TASO staff. The home caregivers have adequate basic knowledge to be able to provide Home Nursing and emergency care. The AIDS Community workers (ACWs) also trained by TASO offer support to home-caregivers by providing simple nursing care and first aid and referrals to bedridden clients.

OUTREACH CLINICS: 

TASO centers run community out-reach clinics at selected sites, once in a month to support clients who cannot afford to travel to the centers. This together with the system of appointments for clients has resulted to reduction of the number of clients seen at the centers every day.

A day care center in TASO is a place for sharing experiences, giving and getting information, emotional support, spiritual support, skills building and general relaxation. Entertainment is provided through watching Television, listening to soft music on radio, listening to educative HIV programs, and watching skits and plays by Clients' drama groups. Clients are free to join drama groups with recommendation of their counselors. Some clients chose to learn certain skills such as tailoring, crafts making, weaving and many others either from colleagues or from a skills trainer provided by TASO. This helps them to generate some income.

Out of the day center interaction, clients such as the Drama Group, Mamas club and Positive men's Union have emerged. These groups of people Living with AIDS are involved in various activities including promotion of positive prevention, mobilization of other people living with HIV/AIDS for GIPA/MIPA and sharing of useful information for developing coping mechanisms.

SOCIAL SUPPORT 

TASO clients have continuously confided in their counselors that some of their biggest challenges are their children's school fees and nutritional support especially with the advent of Anti-retroviral Therapy. They (clients) have clearly expressed themselves that if some body took care of those challenges, a very heavy load would be lifted off their shoulders.

TASO's Social Support Programme therefore comprises of services that seek to mitigate the impact of HIV/AIDS on clients in the areas of child support, Sustainable Livelihoods, Nutritional support and some other descrete projects.

Child support:

At registration of every TASO client, their biological and dependent children are recorded. Some of these children have already lost one parent. Most of the children after assessment turnout to be vulnerable and in need of support.

TASO runs a program to support the social and psychological development of a number of these children depending on available resources. This involves counseling the children and their guardians, supporting them through providing basic education and in life skills training that enable them to live meaningful lives.

Apprenticeship Program

One of the sub-projects which assists older children who cannot continue with formal education who are from the age of fourteen years onwards. They are trained in various vocational Skills such as carpentry, motor vehicle mechanics, hairdressing, catering, brick laying, electrical installation, plumbing, welding, motorcycle repair, etc. This is done through apprenticeship training in which institutions carrying out vocational skills training are hired to offer these children on the job training with little academic work. This is because usually the formal technical institutions would not take on these children with no minimum qualifications. 

The apprenticeship training lasts between 9 and 18 months depending on the course. When they pass out, they are provided with tool-kits so that they are able to start work. By the end of 2004, more than 850 children had passed through this program and some of them are already earning some income and able to support their young brothers and sisters. This programme of training apprenticees has been halted as the organization seeks for funding to continue it.

The AIDS Challenge Youth Club.

The AIDS Challenge Youth Club (ACYC) was founded in May 1991 by a group of young people whose parents or close relatives had died or were living with HIV/AIDS. Their main aim was to support each other and also gain understanding of issues concerning HIV/AIDS, STDs and youth reproductive Health in order to avoid catching HIV. They also wanted to be supported to be able to offer appropriate support to their parents/relatives and other people living with HIV/AIDS, and to extend the support to their peers too. The group gave birth to similar clubs at TASO centers and in secondary schools around the country.

The youth get equipped with peer education skills enabling them to facilitate radio Programs, workshops and seminars which are held during school days. During holidays they support out of school youth. Their major focus is on promotion of positive behavior among young people.

NUTRITIONAL SUPPORT 

It is now common knowledge in HIV/AIDS Management that proper nutrition is very critical in maintaining and replenishing the immunity of PHA.

In 2001 TASO entered a five year partnership with USAID through ACDI/VOCA to support its clients with fortified food supplements such as Corn-Soya Blend (CSB) and Vegetable oil products. In 2004 another contract was signed between TASO and World food Program (WFP) to give similar products to clients on ART, those on TB treatment as well as orphans and vulnerable children.

Those two contracts ended in September 2006 and March 2007 respectively. As the ACDI/VOCA Title II Project was ending, and exit empowerment Project for 40% of clients weaned off food took place in partnership with Implimenting partners attached to each TASO service Center. This was supported by ACDI/VOCA and Implimented as a Sustainable Livelihoods Strategy piloted at TASO. Clients were trained to shift towards Strategic food security activities and sustainable Livelihoods. 

Meanwhile ACDI/VOCA entered another five-year nutritional support contract (2007 - 2011) with TASO known as the Multi-Year assitance Program (MYAP). This partnership is to provide food support to 7000 TASO registered clients in the centers of Gulu, Soroti, as well as Kaberamaido Mini TASOs by the end of 2011. 

TASO views HIV/AIDS as a multi-pronged problem that calls for concerted effort from all sectors of life. Through advocacy at local, national and international levels, TASO increases awareness on various HIV/AIDS issues and influences the attitudes of all those in high positions in society.

As a result they contribute positively towards the well being of the infected and affected, and they keep the negative effects of the epidemic, such as stigmatization to a minimum.

TASO's advocacy aims at sensitizing people with AIDS and society as a whole to understand the rights and responsibilities of the infected.

This is done through:

• Lobbying;
• Collaboration with especially government structures, developmental and AIDS service NGOs, as well as Community Based Oragnisations that have similar interests.
• Meetings, seminars, conferences at national and international level.
• Workshops, program exchanges, consultations and provision of technical support.
• Commemoration of Candle light, World AIDS Day and other Important Days.
• Periodic Publications and Media Releases.
• Public relations with policy makers and influential national and community leaders.
• Support to community response and mobilization.
• Mobilization of TASO Membership
• Convening of Annual General Meetings.

Networking and Collaboration:

TASO is a member of the Uganda Network of AIDS Service Organizations (UNASO). Under this network, it has been possible for many member organizations to share experience and resources. Young NGOs and CBOs are supported to build their capacity and be able to scale up their services to reach more people.  

The advocacy voice on various issues has improved because the Network Secretariat is recognized and represents the views of all the member organizations at important levels.

TASO is also a member of the Eastern and Southern Africa Regional AIDS Training Network (RATN) that has highly promoted the standards and scope of HIV/AIDS training in the region.

TASO TRAINING FUNCTION

TASO builds the capacity of individuals, NGOs, CBOs and institutions in AIDS Care and support services. The training courses that TASO offers include counseling, Medical and Community care.

TASO has an established Training and Capacity Development Directorate that operates through three arms:

· A Training center of excellence with outreach services at regional level (Eastern, Western, Northern and Central regions of TASO).

·TASO Experiential Attachment to Combat HIV/AIDS (TEACH), which provides opportunities for trainees from other parts of Africa to be attached to TASO Centers for Orientation in AIDS Care, support and Prevention Services.

· Strengthening Counselor Training in Uganda (SCOT), which is a partnership with the Ministry of Health, and some other stake-holders aimed at upgrading the quality of training and counseling through curriculum review and development.

The training function is ensuring that individual and service providers in different institutions with in and outside Uganda access HIV/AIDS training in TASO.

TASO service Centers: Entebbe  Jinja  Masaka  Mbale  Mbarara  Mulago  Tororo  Gulu  Soroti  Rukungiri  Masandi