By Ainebyona Isaac
Mr. Ngabirano Emmy the Vice chairman TASO Rukungiri has urged men to embrace safe male circumcision to reduce on the chances of HIV infection. Mr. Ngabirano who was speaking at the TASO annual General meeting held in Entebbe on Friday August 29th said that though safe male circumcision wouldn’t eliminate the spread of HIV/AIDS, it would reduce the transmission of the virus coupled with use of condoms.
He also thanked TASO Entebbe for holding a successful Annual General meeting and also invited them to TASO Rukungiri to learn more about Health Insurance. Miss Noreen Nakaleeba “Jaja” one of the TASO founding members urged President Museveni to urgently remove a clause in the HIV/AIDS bill which criminalizes the intentional transmission of HIV amongst consenting adults . She also urged people living with the HIV virus to live a positive life and work hard.
“If you discover that you are HIV positive don’t lose hope, you can still live” she advised.
Other guests who spoke at the AGM included Dr. Ante Verlick also a founding member of TASO, he thanked Government and donors for playing an active role in the prevention of the HIV/AIDS scourge. He also appealed to the general public to voluntarily test for HIV adding that that would be the best way to reduce the HIV prevalence. Dr. Verlick also called upon the International community to continue funding NGO’s like TASO, Ministry of Health, Centre for Disease control, Medical Research Council, Uganda Virus Research Institute that are engaged in the HIV/AIDS research.
Mr. Basajjasubi the TASO client relations officer says that the Annual General Meeting is held every year to give accountability to the people they serve TASO clients and funders and also discuss issues to be handled in the coming year.
Mr. Basajjasubi also says that the meeting enables them to interact with three types of people namely, those who get anti-retroviral drugs, staff and other stake holders who contribute funds to TASO.
