TASO to give ARVs
Apr 06, 2004
THE AIDS Support Organisation (TASO) is set to start giving free Anti-Retroviral (ARV) drugs to its clients countrywide, the director, Dr. Alex Coutinho, has said
By Anne Mugisa and Lillian Namusoke
THE AIDS Support Organisation (TASO) is set to start giving free Anti-Retroviral (ARV) drugs to its clients countrywide, the director, Dr. Alex Coutinho, has said.
Coutinho told the visiting British State Secretary for International Development, Hilary Benn, that TASO had started preparing its clients for the Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART).
He said not all HIV positive people would be put on ARVs. The centre is currently screening and testing clients who would be put on ARVs.
Coutinho said TASO had 30,000 clients countrywide. The organisation was formed in 1987 with 16 people and has supported 102,000 people, 70,000 of whom have died. Currently, only about 1,500 of its clients are on ARVs.
Coutinho said besides two regional units in central and eastern Uganda, it would open centres in Gulu, Soroti and Rukungiri.
Benn said donors must commit funds equally to all the components of HIV/AIDS care, starting with a working health system, prevention of HIV/AIDS infections, care, support and treatment of the infected.
He also commended Uganda for leading in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
THE AIDS Support Organisation (TASO) is set to start giving free Anti-Retroviral (ARV) drugs to its clients countrywide, the director, Dr. Alex Coutinho, has said.
Coutinho told the visiting British State Secretary for International Development, Hilary Benn, that TASO had started preparing its clients for the Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART).
He said not all HIV positive people would be put on ARVs. The centre is currently screening and testing clients who would be put on ARVs.
Coutinho said TASO had 30,000 clients countrywide. The organisation was formed in 1987 with 16 people and has supported 102,000 people, 70,000 of whom have died. Currently, only about 1,500 of its clients are on ARVs.
Coutinho said besides two regional units in central and eastern Uganda, it would open centres in Gulu, Soroti and Rukungiri.
Benn said donors must commit funds equally to all the components of HIV/AIDS care, starting with a working health system, prevention of HIV/AIDS infections, care, support and treatment of the infected.
He also commended Uganda for leading in the fight against HIV/AIDS.