Tororo
Committed to serving the communities around Tororo
Our History
TASO started working in Tororo district in 1989.
It began in 2 rooms in St Anthony’s Hospital spearheaded by the efforts of Dr. Joshua Dambisya who was already treating people living with AIDS in the district and surrounding areas. By 1991, the clientele had grown to 827 people. The unit moved to Tororo Hospital in 1992 was it operated in an abandoned ward. In 1997, it constructed the first office block on plot 31, Cox Road opposite the Main Hospital. In 2004, an extension was constructed which houses the unit to date.
Tororo is home to the famous Tororo rock and hosts the 3 Cement Factories of Tororo cement, Hima cement and Simba cement . It is also a border town with Kenya and has a highly mixed population in terms of tribes, nationalities and professions. Like all trading points and border towns, it has a highly transient population that is at risk of contracting and spreading HIV.
Opperations
By June 2018, TASO Tororo Center had served and improved the lives of 7759 clients 5199 female and 2560 male, their families and communities. TASO had also reached 16000 clients with HIV testing services and 3500 men were circumcised between Jan-Jun 2018.
It operates within a 75KM radius catchment area covering the districts of Tororo, Butaleja, Namisindwa, Bugiri, Namayingo, Busia and Manafwa by 36 full time staff, 12 part time staff and 6 volunteers.
TASO Rukungiri 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 if any, Laboratory investigation (Viral Load and CD4 count); weight monitoring, Mental Health screening.
It has also been involved in a number of research studies and collaborations such as;
- Malaria study by IDRC
- A study site for many more researches in the Country.
Clinic Days
- Monday and Tuesday – Center general clinics
- Wednesday – Adolescent (once a month)
- Thursday – eMTCT (once a month)
Management Structure
The Center is headed by a Center Programme Manager who is supported by 5 heads of departments which are Medical, Psychosocial, Finance, Monitoring & Evaluation and Laboratory Hub departments.
Governance Structure
The Center has a Center Advisory Committee (CAC) made up of 9 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 eleven (11) 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 RHITES E Mechanism.
- Friends of TASO Tororo.
- 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.