On Friday the Aids Support Organization (TASO) Entebbe officially ushered in new leadership at the 20th Annual Centre General Meeting that was held at the NARO Grounds in Entebbe. Robert Nkabala was officially inaugurated as the new TASO Entebbe Manager replacing Robert Kadando who was transferred to Soroti District as the regional Manager. In his speech, Nkabala vowed to ensure that more patients access ARVs. He revealed that unlike women who are participating actively in HIV testing and treatment, men on the other hand don’t want to test for HIV and that majority of them are spreading the Virus.
“I’m happy that women are actively participating in the HIV testing and treatment. We are now focusing our attention on men who don’t want to come out and test for the Virus. We need to encourage men to come out and test for HIV because many of them are out there spreading the Virus. We shall use the four motorbikes that we acquired to mobilize men in several communities in Entebbe and encourage them to test for HIV/AIDS”, Nkabala said.
On his part, Solomon Rubondo who took over from Rev. Fr. Joseph Ssebayiga as the newly elected TASO Centre Advisory Committee (CAC) Chairman promised to mobilize the community and institutions to support TASO activities and programs. He said that through donations and corporate sponsorship from institutions, TASO will achieve it’s target of supporting people living with HIV/AIDS in Entebbe. Other CAC Members include Ssewanyana Betty Kayanja (Vice Chairman), Joseph Ddamulira Kawuma (Treasurer), Arthur Namara (Male Clients Representative), Dr. Jessica Nakiyingi Miiro (female Clients representative), Dr. Moses Muwanga (Member) and Dr. John Kalyesubula (Member). The committee will serve two terms in office.
Meanwhile Mayor Kayanja appealed to the TASO take the HIV/AIDS Prevention campaign to churches and schools. He urged the TASO fraternity to always use all the available platforms to sensitize people about the HIV/AIDS Prevention gospel. He said that Entebbe Municipal Council will contribute One million shillings (Shs1m) annually towards supporting TASO activities.
