TASO sends home 124 workers
Courtesy Photo.
What you need to know:
- Dr Etukoit said much as they cannot deny the impact of the Executive Order to freeze aid on their operations since they mobilise resources locally, the directive was likely to affect some of their operations.
The Aids Support Organisation (TASO) has said it is not stopping operations amid US aid cuts but will continue to meet its obligations as a national non-governmental organisation (NGO).
Dr Bernard Etukoit, the TASO executive director, yesterday allayed fears among Ugandans that the organisation would be affected by US President Donald Trump’s January 20 Executive Order that froze aid to foreign nations for 90 days, pending a review of their effectiveness.
Dr Etukoit, in an interview with Daily Monitor, said TASO, which currently caters for the needs of 78,000 individuals affected by HIV/Aids in the country, is funded by the Ugandan government and supported by several development partners.
“We had 24 people who were working on a US government-funded research project on injectable pre-exposure prophylaxis. These have been implemented 100 percent and another 100 were working on US-funded projects in Ankole and Acholi sub-regions. Those, we have sent them home for 90 days,” he said.
Dr Etukoit said the rest of the 300 staff working in different parts of the country, including at the headquarters, are continuing to work because TASO implements multiple projects from different donors.
“We work with 18 organisations covering the whole country. This is a three-year project ending next year. On our part, we have complied with the Executive Order 100 percent. Other than the Global Fund, we have research projects that are going on and funded by other donors. The research is going on,” he said.
Dr Etukoit said much as they cannot deny the impact of the Executive Order to freeze aid on their operations since they mobilise resources locally, the directive was likely to affect some of their operations.
He said TASO is committed to delivering specific services for the people from whom they mobilise the resources. He said some of the projects are at negotiation level at the centres.
Dr Etukoit reassured their patients that they have enough stock to last them at least until the end of March when they expect the next consignment of drugs to be delivered by the Joint Medical Stores.
