TASO is the oldest and most experienced NGO providing HIV/AIDS services in Uganda. To date, TASO has cumulatively cared for over 200,000 clients of whom over 90,000 are active with over 30,000 clients cumulatively enrolled on ART. TASO has the widest non-government HIV/AIDS service delivery network in Uganda and directly complements the efforts of MoH. TASO has 11 Service Centres located in the districts of Gulu, Jinja, Kampala, Masaka, Masindi, Mbale, Mbarara, Rukungiri, Soroti, Tororo and Wakiso in the 4 geo-political regions of Uganda. Each TASO Centre [equipped with pharmacy, a laboratory that has capacity to provide tests for malaria, TB, STI and other OI, and also for basic HIV disease monitoring, and adequate storage space for supplies]. These Centres provide services for the host districts and 3 to 4 neighboring districts. Although Centers are located in the urban district towns/cities, they have extensive service delivery networks up to grassroots communities. TASO also operates 1 International HIV/AIDS Training Centre and 4 Regional Training Centres. The Training Centres conduct various HIV/AIDS courses for service providers. TASO Head Office is located in Kampala and is in charge of: Finance Management; Human Resources & Administration; Advocacy; Training & Capacity Building; Program Management; Planning & Strategic Information.

TASO provides a continuum of comprehensive HIV/AIDS prevention, care, treatment and related support services to HIV-positive people and their families. TASO activities include provision of antiretroviral therapy; counseling services for empowering PHA and supporting ART adherence; providing TB screening and treatment services; providing services for prevention, diagnosis and treatment of OI; providing PHA with the Basic Care Package (BCP); providing services for prevention-with-positives; providing confidential Home-Based HIV Counseling and Testing (HBHCT) services for clients' family members; providing Home Care for the sick; training and capacity-building of different calibers of staff in HIV/AIDS service delivery; supporting and maintaining linkages and referral mechanisms for expanded access to services; and conducting advocacy on the driving factors of the epidemic, issues inhibiting access to services and addressing stigma due to HIV/AIDS.

TASO works closely with Ministry of Health (MoH). Since inception TASO Service Centres operate within or close to District, Regional Referral and National Referral Hospitals. This facilitates contribution to and strategic collaboration with the public health care system. In many cases the 11 Service Centres serve as specialized HIV/AIDS clinics to the MoH district and regional referral hospitals and other lower level government health facilities. TASO maintains a referral mechanism with all levels of government health facilities. As a way of contributing to universal access and equitable service delivery, TASO has also trained and supports 23 peripheral partners to provide TASO-like services in under-served districts; these partners include government hospitals, private-not-for profit hospitals and community-based organizations.

TASO through support of PEPFAR and other funding partners has developed all the 11 Service Centres into leading HIV/AIDS care, support and treatment partners in the regions of Uganda where they are located. TASO Centres have an experienced, well-qualified and well-trained workforce of over 1,000 personnel, an average of 75 staffs per Centre. The Centre teams are multi-disciplinary including Medical Doctors, Counselors, Clinical Officers, Nurses, Pharmacy Technicians, Laboratory Technicians, Data Managers, Social Workers and Support staff. Individual staff have received multi-disciplinary on-job training to facilitate multi-tasking in deployment for service delivery; the workforce is organized in cohesive small teams (departments and sections) under supervisors; the supervisors undergo regular training and mentoring in leadership and supervisory management. All frontline staff are trained, facilitated and motivated to cultivate and maintain personal contact with the clients. Staff are required to be fluent in the local languages of the Centres of their respective deployment. All jobs have comprehensive Job Descriptions (JD) and the Human Resources & Administration Directorate ensures regular update of all JDs. Apart from their formal qualifications (Degrees, Diplomas, etc), TASO requires all job applicants to have undergone robust HIV/AIDS training with a practicum component. TASO also provides regular didactic and experiential training to keep service providers up-to-date. TASO will manage and oversee program activities the following system: -

Governance: The TASO governance structure includes a national Board of Trustees (BOT), 4 Regional Advisory Councils (RAC), 11 Centre Advisory Committee (CAC) and the Clients' Council. The BOT oversees the TASO program nationally and is the highest decision-making organ; the RAC oversees the TASO program in the 4 Regions of Uganda; the CAC oversee the activities of each of the 11 Centres; and the Clients' Council advocates for clients' rights, mobilizes clients to exercise their responsibility and advise management on clients' issues. All of these governance structures are elected by the Annual General Assembly periodically.

Program Leadership & Oversight: Overall management and leadership of the TASO program at national level will be done by the Mr. Robert Ochai the Executive Director. The Executive Director is assisted by 2 Deputy Executive Directors (one in charge of Program Management and the other in charge of Support Services) and other Directors in charge of Planning & Strategic Information, Training & Capacity Building and Advocacy. All the Directors are highly-trained, highly-skilled and experienced individuals in HIV/AIDS programming.

Management of Activities: Each of the 11 Centres is headed by a Centre Manager. The 11 Managers in charge of TASO Centres are well-qualified and experienced individuals who have undergone specialized experiential and didactic training in leading HIV/AIDS programming and managing TASO Centres, in addition to other training. The Managers ensure adherence to organizational policies and systems. Each Centre Manager is assisted by 5 heads of department, namely Medical Coordinator, Counseling Coordinator, Accountant, Human Resource Officer, Project Officer and Data Manager (these 5 officers supervise multi-tasked teams of highly motivated frontline staff).

Service Teams at Centres: TASO has just over 800 frontline staff. All staff are well-qualified, have undergone comprehensive training in their respective responsibilities and undergo regular refresher training to keep up-to-date. Besides their service delivery skills, the frontline staff have other beneficial skills like planning skills, customer care skills, teamwork skills and others. TASO will maintain the existing personnel at Headquarters and Centres to steer the program during FY 2009.

Quality Assurance: TASO ensures that all service providers and Service Centres adhere to the National Guidelines for delivery of various HIV/AIDS services. TASO has Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for all services provided by the 11 Service Centres. The SOPs comply with National Guidelines and are observed by all service providers. These SOPs are regularly reviewed in a participatory manner to match the fast paced developments in HIV care and support technologies. TASO has a comprehensive Quality Assurance Manual spelling out the basic minimum standards to be ensured by all service providers.

Management Information Systems: TASO, with support from partners, has developed robust computer-based management information systems (MIS) for generating strategic information and managing/tracking resource utilization. The key organizational systems include Navision 3.0 Accounting System; the Health Management Information System (HMIS); Appointments Management System; Clients' Identification/Mapping System; Clinical Laboratory Information System; Pharmacy and stores Information Management System; Supply Chain Management System; Fleet Management System and Human Resources Information System. These systems are integrated in order to maximize the quality and integrity of information produced. TASO regularly updates these systems and re-trains data staff to keep the MIS up-to-date. Update of the MIS shall continue during FY 2009.

Organizational Policies: All TASO Centres are managed in accordance with documented organizational policies. TASO policies are developed through an inclusive process that harmonizes the views and interests of all key stakeholders. The policies are in harmony with the laws and guidelines of Government of Uganda and the funding agencies. TASO policies are approved by the TASO Board of Trustees. TASO has policies for Procurement, Human Resource Management, Governance, Financial Accounting and other issues.

Performance Monitoring: TASO has a comprehensive internal performance monitoring mechanism. The Directorate of Planning & Strategic Information (PSI) at TASO Headquarters leads the performance monitoring function. Annual work plans and targets are developed from the TASO Strategic Plan. Each of the 11 Centres has monthly, quarterly semi-annual and annual targets to achieve. Service providers fill data collection forms that measure the quantity and quality of work. Data personnel manage service data (data entry, data cleaning, data storage, data analysis) together with data for other systems. Centres submit monthly Programmatic and Financial Reports to TASO Headquarters based on data, lessons and observations recorded. TASO Headquarters generates regular (monthly, quarterly and annual) reports and adhoc reports, Programmatic and Financial Reports for CDC/HHS, Ministry of Health, and other national partners. The reports are also used internally for reviewing performance and improving quality of service delivery.

Audit Arrangements: TASO has an elaborate Internal Audit system implemented by the Internal Audit Unit comprising the Chief Internal Auditor and three other Auditors. The Auditors are well-qualified and undertake regular performance enhancement training. The Team conducts comprehensive audit of all TASO units twice a year, and also conduct other audits as need arises. The audits will include both Financial Reviews and Programmatic Reviews. TASO operations are also audited externally by internationally recognized audit firms. Internal Audit Unit reports to the Board of Trustees on a quarterly basis.

Procurement Procedures: TASO conducts competitive open procurement for drugs, medical supplies, stationery, equipment and other program needs. All Centres adhere to the Procurement Policy. Each of the 11 TASO Centres and other TASO units have a Procurement Committee constituted according to the TASO Procurement Procedures policy. There are clear cross-cutting guidelines for situations where prequalified suppliers such as Medical Access will be used.

Technical Support: The program will have a three-tier technical support mechanism to the services at the 11 Centres. This will be done by the Program Management Directorate at TASO Headquarters, Ministry of Health (MoH) and the CDC/PEPFAR Country Team. The teams from MoH and CDC will provide regular support to the Directorates of Program Management and Strategic Information at TASO Headquarters. The Directorates will in turn support the TASO Centres through quarterly support visits. The 11 TASO Centres will also collaborate with MoH in the areas of capacity-building for the Centres, availing of the national guidelines by MoH, provision of supplies for TB management, providing consultancy on ART delivery and providing counseling and psychosocial support at MoH facilities by TASO staff.

TASO will continue offering both facility-based and community-based care to adult clients at the 11 service centres, 34 outreach clinics, at adjacent Government Hospitals/Health Centres and at clients' homes. The 11 TASO centres are located at 11 districts strategically located in the country and each centre serves clients from 3 to 4 neighboring districts. Apart from the index clients, services will also be targeted at household members and the general community especially in relation to stigma reduction and adherence to treatment. The services will include both clinical and non-clinical services. TASO will continue to strengthen treatment of opportunistic infections, provision of basic care package consisting of Cotrimoxazole for prophylaxis, Long Lasting Insecticide Treated bed Nets (LLITN), safe water vessels and water guard. TASO will focus on the aspects of improving the quality of life of adult clients by strengthening the aspect of pain management provision of psychosocial, social and spiritual (end of life) care, counseling and nutritional support. TASO medical staff and volunteers will be trained in pain management using the recommended World Health Organization (WHO) analgesic ladder. TASO will work with the Ministry of health to ensure continuous availability of Liquid Oral Morphine (LOM) for management of severe pain.

TASO will also enhance the capacity of indigenous organization in HIV/AIDS care and support. TASO will identify 10 new indigenous organizations for capacity development through a transparent and competitive process. The successful organizations will need to be operating in under-served/under-resourced settings; registered as CBO/NGO with at least 3 years experience; broad-based membership and ownership; pursuing HIV/AIDS-related vision and mission; not-for-profit status; willingness to grow in terms of scope and OD; meaningful and greater PHA involvement in programming; gender sensitive programming and meaningful involvement of women and children; and interested in reaching out to most-at-risk populations. Through these partners, TASO will be able to increase the number of people accessing good quality services. The key activities in increasing access to HIV/AIDS services in under-served areas will comprise:

Selection of viable Indigenous Organizations: TASO will invite applications from indigenous organizations; review and select successful applicants; orient successful applicants and other stakeholders to the program. Indigenous organizations will be selected on competitive basis. Successful applicants will be those that meet but not limited to the following criteria: operating in high HIV prevalence areas; organizations located in under served districts; previously organizations supported by AIM, UPHOLD and other USAID programmes; organizations whose vision/mission are relevant to NSP; organizations with clean past record in delivering HIV/AIDS services and resource management; organizations providing comprehensive HIV/AIDS services within a given geographical area; organizations with basic human resource and infrastructural capacity and organizations that work closely with districts in their areas of operation. In addition to the above, TASO, will enhance partnership in HIV/AIDS service delivery with existing partner PHA networks and/or organizations such as Positive Men's Union (POMU) and National Coalition of Women Living with AIDS (NACWOLA).

Providing Sub-Grants: TASO will provide sub-grants to the selected organizations to finance HIV/AIDS service delivery. The terms for receiving, utilizing, managing and accounting for the funds will be included in the Memoranda of Understanding signed with these organizations. Compliance with the terms in the memoranda will be included in the terms of reference of audit and technical support visits to these organizations.

Service Delivery by supported Organizations: The supported indigenous organizations will offer a package of services in under-served areas comprising HCT, counseling, medical care, home care, community mobilization/sensitization/education, condom education and promotion and referral for specialized care. Through supporting indigenous organizations, at least 25,000 individuals will be reached with HIV/AIDS services and provided closer to their homes.

TASO will conduct performance enhancement courses for direct service providers of the supported organizations to offer quality, care and support services to PHA. These courses will target direct service providers, PHA networks, clinicians, counsellors, nurses, people with disabilities and religious leaders. The major training interventions will be as follows: -

HIV/AIDS Counsellor Training: TASO will reach 300 service providers in the selected organizations with this kind of training. The trainees will be prepared to become counsellors capable of meeting the information needs of clients and providing the necessary psychological support towards adopting positive lifestyle. This counselling course will also incorporate appropriate aspects of HIV and Gender issues. Due assessments will be done and where it is deemed necessary, a Basic Peer Counselling Course will be conducted to enable PHA reach out to their peers within the communities served by the supported organisation. Up-to 160 PHA will be trained in basic counselling.

Child Counsellor Training: TASO will also train some of the counselling in the supported CBOs in child counselling. This course will orient and train individuals working with children affected by HIV/AIDS. The course will enable participants to identify HIV/AIDS-related risks and challenges of children and young adults. Trained people will also support families develop strategies for coping with HIV/AIDS. TASO plans to train 10 counsellors in each supported CBO in child counselling.

Clinical HIV/AIDS Management: TASO will reach 100 service providers in the selected organizations with this training. This will be a highly practical course, offering a strong hands-on experiential learning at the TASO clinical training facility. The course will target the medical service providers, especially the clinical officers and nurses.

Home-Based HIV/AIDS Care: TASO will reach 100 service providers in supported organizations with this course. The course will equip participants with skills and knowledge to offer comprehensive HIV/AIDS care to individuals, families and communities, and will target clinicians, HIV/AIDS counsellors and social workers.

The TASO Training Centre will work with the SCOT Consortium, NUDIPU and its partners in the Regional AIDS Training Network (RATN) to develop tailored courses to address competency gaps in various areas including HIV prevention strategies for identified most-at-risk groups such as people with disability (PWD); children and young adults; people living with HIV/AIDS and other current and emerging priorities. TOT courses will also be conducted to cascade training and for sustainability within the supported institutions and districts. TASO will conduct this in collaboration with RATN. Post-training follow-up visits will be done to at least 60% of the trained people. Following implementation of these courses, supported organizations will have capacity to provide quality HIV/AIDS services.

This objective will be achieved through provision of leadership, management governance support: This support will target Management / leadership committees and governance bodies of partnering and supported organizations to offer sound, practical and effective leadership for HIV/AIDS programming. Capacity building for indigenous organizations will focus on the following systems: performance management; strategic planning; program leadership; managing human resources; supply chain management and procurement; stocks management and control including pharmacy; advocacy, networking and partnerships; monitoring and evaluation; resource mobilization; financial accounting; report writing; and governance.

Capacity development will be done using a combinational strategy comprising of didactic teaching; mentoring; experiential placement at TASO Centres; exchange visits; and ongoing technical support supervision. Through this kind of support TASO will reach 218 people (members of management and governance structures of supported organizations). By the end of 5 years, these organizations will be able to: develop short-term and long-term strategic plans, compete for resources from non-US sources and to operate accounting and other systems compliant to USG and in country audit requirements. Support will be geared to enhancing sustainability of the supported indigenous organizations.

TASO will provide to OVC a comprehensive package of services comprising of socio-economic security components, food and nutrition security, educational support, health care (targeting uninfected children in targeted households who are not catered for in the CDC mechanism) and child protection services as per the NSPPI and NOP. All the 8,000 supported OVC will, in addition to this package, also access psychosocial support. The services provided to the OVC under the various CPA will be as follows: -

Socio-Economic Security: TASO will provide these services to benefit 1,000 OVC. Socio-economic security will comprise of provision of small grants for OVC and/or households; counseling OVC and family members about health and socio-economic welfare; apprenticeship training for out-of-school OVC; training in small business management for OVC and/or caregivers; and mobilizing community structures to support community safety nets.

Food and Nutrition Security: TASO will provide these services to benefit 3,000 OVC. Food and nutrition security interventions will comprise of providing agricultural tools and supplies for vulnerable households; counseling caregivers of chronically ill household members about alternative food security practices; and training households in appropriate nutrition for persons who are chronically ill.

Educational Support: TASO will provide these services to benefit 1,100 OVC. Educational support will comprise of short-term assistance for needy primary and secondary level students (scholastic materials and uniforms); short-term assistance for vocational school students (tuition fees and materials); training in psychosocial care and support to OVC who are in school, at risk of falling out, or have fallen out; training in the gender impact of HIV/AIDS and innovations to keep girls in school and safe; and school/family-based monitoring of children at risk of dropping out.

Health Care for under-served OVC: TASO will provide these services to benefit 4,000 children in PHA households in under-served/under-resourced settings. Health care for these children will comprise of preventive health care; referral for hospice care for chronically and terminally ill children in need of specialized care; counseling for chronically ill OVC and caregivers; curative health care for OVC and caregivers; providing information on health, hygiene, nutrition and ARV therapy; procuring manuals and IEC materials for trainers of caregivers of the chronically ill; training health care workers to provide more user-friendly services for OVC and caregivers; supporting community care initiatives; and supporting formation of peer groups.

Child Protection Services: TASO will provide access to child protection services to benefit 8,000 OVC as and when deemed necessary. Child protection services will comprise of raising awareness on legal issues affecting OVC and their caregivers and legal redress; awareness-raising on fostering, adoption and guardianship arrangements; awareness-raising on role of Child and Family Protection Units at police stations; awareness-raising on Vital Registration and Information Systems (Birth & Death registration); awareness-raising on domestic violence, child abuse, child neglect and child labor; and awareness-raising regarding on reduction of stigma and discrimination towards OVC.

Through the above approach, TASO plans to ensure that at least 3,000 OVC access at least three forms of OVC services excluding psychosocial services. Given additional resources, TASO can ensure that at least 5,000 OVC access at least three forms of OVC services excluding psychosocial support.

The identification of infants born to HIV-infected women is a necessary step in infant diagnosis. TASO shall continue to use the national ART and PMTCT diagnostic protocols by screening children using Dried Blood Spots (DBS) where HIV is suspected, starting as early as six weeks after birth. DBS will be obtained by finger or heel prick and transported to Regional Referral Laboratories for Virologic Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test. Children under 18 months will be closely monitored. Children under 18 months who are known or suspected to have been exposed to HIV will be closely monitored and early timely interventions including ART instituted to reduce early morbidity and mortality. Children of any age confirmed HIV positive will be counseled and linked to care, treatment and support. All infants once confirmed HIV positive shall be started on HAART (Irrespective of CD4/CD4% status).The decision as to when to start HAART in children more than 12 months shall be guided by immunologic and clinical staging of thee children..Regimens shall be based on the National ART and care guidelines for infants and children (MoH, Second Edition, July 2008).Most of the ARVs available for adults can also be used in children, though not all formulations are suitable for children. History of PMTCT shall be considered in selection of 1st line regimens. Use of Paediatric Fixed Dose Combinations (FDCs) shall be considered. Modification of treatment regimens will be considered for tuberculosis co-infection as there is potential for multiple drug interactions. (Rifampicin plus NNRTIs/PIs). Counselling for ART is crucial ion children. Basic monitoring of children on ARVs shall consist of: clinical examination and WHO staging; immunologic CD4 %/CD4 counts; viral loads will be reserved for complicated management decisions following case conferences and training of TASO staff in Paediatric HIV care, treatment and support will be undertaken. Growth and development monitoring will be done using revised WHO growth charts for early identification of growth faltering and institution of corrective measures including nutritional supplements to promote growth and development. Weighing scales, Stadiometers and tape measures shall be procured. Infant feeding within the context of HIV shall be done according to National guidelines. Optimal feeding to minimize MTCT, prevent malnutrition and promote growth and development shall be practiced. Cotrimoxazole prophylaxis shall be instituted for all HIV exposed and infected children starting at 6 weeks of age and continued until HIV is excluded. For HIV-exposed children of any age that are still breastfeeding, CTX will be continued until HIV is excluded i.e. 12 weeks after complete cessation of breastfeeding. Paediatric-specific adherence issues e.g. availability and palatability of drug formulations, relationship of drug administration to food intake in young infants and dependence on caretakers for administration of drugs shall be considered. Adherence shall be monitored through pharmacy refill records, pill counts and home visits for spot checks. Opportunistic Infections Prevention and Care. Provision of opportunistic infections prevention and care will be based on recommendations contained in the National Guidelines for CTX preventive therapy. All HIV infected children, regardless of CD4%/CD4 count shall receive CTX preventive therapy. All TASO HIV exposed and infected children shall be linked to appropriate specialized health facilities and community care e.g. Immunization clinics. Comprehensive Paediatric HIV care, treatment and support shall be provided according to the Ten-point package of the African Network for the care of children affected by HIV/AIDS (ANNECA) and adapted by the government of Uganda. This includes: confirming HIV infection status as early as possible; monitoring the Childs' growth and development; immunizations according to National guidelines; prophylaxis against OIs particularly Pneumocystis Carina Pneumonia (PCP); treatment of acute infections and other HIV-related conditions; counselling on infant feeding, good personal and food hygiene; conducting disease staging; ART for the infected child if needed; provide psychosocial support for the infected child, mother/caretaker & family and referral to higher levels of specialized care when necessary.

TASO AB interventions will aim at influencing key HIV drivers through: minimizing risky individual behavior such as premarital sex, early sex debut, casual sex, multiple sexual partners and extramarital sex; highlighting risk linked to economic factors such as OVC and child-headed households; highlighting risk linked to socio-cultural factors resulting in human rights abuses; addressing risks linked to gender factors such as sexual violence; addressing risks linked to geographic locations such as post-conflict settings; and addressing risks linked to lack of food and nutrition security.

Abstinence interventions will target youths and/or young people in and out of school. The interventions will empower male and female youth in targeted communities with life skills to prevent HIV infection through abstaining from sex. Service providers dealing with youth will be empowered with appropriate communication skills and facilities to support abstinence issues among youth. TASO will develop and implement effective IEC interventions for addressing abstinence issues among the youth. Be Faithful interventions will target people engaging in marital sex and/or sex in stable ongoing relationships such as married couples and cohabiting couples (these will mostly comprise of adult community members). The interventions will empower adult male and female community members to prevent HIV infection by practicing mutual faithfulness in their sexual relationships. Service providers dealing with adults will be empowered with appropriate communication skills and facilities to support this target group. TASO will develop and implement effective IEC interventions for addressing "be faithful" issues among sexually active adult community members.

Sexual Prevention (AB) activities during FY2010 will include: building capacity of local communities and indigenous organizations in AB; supporting AB partnerships, networks and linkages; conducting AB outreach activities in communities; providing financial and technical support to identified local AB partners; training, facilitating and supervising AB service providers and community volunteers; conducting group and/or individual counseling sessions at facilities and/or community venues; conducting health talks on AB issues; mobilizing and empowering community structures such as cultural, social, economic and political entities to promote/advocate for AB. These interventions have been selected because they align the TASO AB approach to the National HIV/AIDS Strategic Plan (NSP) 2007/08-2011/12. The interventions also respond to the gaps in the national HIV response as identified by the UHSBS and other key studies. The interventions are also backed with evidence of their effectiveness. The geographic coverage will include the catchment area served by the 11 TASO Centres located in Entebbe, Gulu, Jinja, Masaka, Masindi, Mbale, Mbarara, Mulago, Rukungiri, Soroti and Tororo (each Centre serves the host district and 3 to 4 neighboring districts). The coverage will also include the areas served by 11 indigenous organizations that will be identified by TASO through competitive local RFAs in 2009/2010. The TASO-supported AB activities will have partnership and referral linkages to other services/platforms within TASO and other health service delivery partners in the targeted communities. AB activities will also promote other HIV Prevention approaches, HIV Care/Support and HIV Treatment services by TASO and other partners.

Mechanisms to promote quality assurance will include: ensuring adherence to national and international quality standards and policies; conducting regular refresher training for service providers; rigorous support supervision of service providers; support supervision training; technical support visits to teams and partner sites; conducting QA meetings by service delivery teams; generating regular client satisfaction feedback; and availing standardized QA materials. Evaluation and monitoring of AB activities will be guided by the TASO Performance Monitoring Plan (PMP) which is based on the rich TASO M&E experience and the lessons and good practices gained from a quarter a century of the national HIV response. The TASO PMP is also aligned to the Performance Measurement and Management Plan for the NSP 2007/8-2011/12 and the PEPFAR Results Frameworks. The PMP will guide assessment of progress for all AB activities. The PMP will outline the AB activities, baseline values and targets, performance indicators, sources of data, methods of data collection, frequency of data collection and responsible persons. The PMP will enable availability of accurate and timely AB data for tracking progress; and availability of reliable and timely information to support decision making.

experience and the lessons and good practices gained from a quarter a century of the national HIV response. The TASO PMP is also aligned to the Performance Measurement and Management Plan for the NSP 2007/8-2011/12 and the PEPFAR Results Frameworks. The PMP will guide assessment of progress for all AB activities. The PMP will outline the AB activities, baseline values and targets, performance indicators, sources of data, methods of data collection, frequency of data collection and responsible persons. The PMP will enable availability of accurate and timely AB data for tracking progress; and availability of reliable and timely information to support decision making.

TASO Sexual Prevention (Other) interventions will aim at influencing key HIV drivers through: minimizing risky individual behavior such as premarital sex, early sex debut, casual sex, multiple sexual partners and extramarital sex; highlighting risk linked to economic factors such as OVC and child-headed households; highlighting risk linked to socio-cultural factors resulting in human rights abuses; addressing risks linked to gender factors such as sexual violence; addressing risks linked to geographic locations such as post-conflict settings; and addressing risks linked to lack of food and nutrition security.

Sexual Prevention (Other) interventions will target the groups at higher risk, as per the NSP, including people living with HIV and sexually active people (especially those using condoms inconsistently, having multiple sexual partners and those engaging in other forms of risky sex). The interventions will challenge and empower male and female members of targeted communities to prevent HIV infection/transmission through other means beyond AB. Service providers dealing with these target groups will be empowered with appropriate communication skills and facilities to support HIV prevention through other approaches beyond AB.

Other Prevention activities during FY2010 will include: building capacity of local communities and indigenous organizations in Other Prevention; supporting Other Prevention partnerships, networks and linkages; conducting Other Prevention outreach activities in communities; providing financial and technical support to identified local partners to implement Other Prevention services; training, facilitating and supervising service providers and community volunteers to give Other Prevention services; and developing effective IEC interventions for addressing HIV prevention using approaches beyond AB. These interventions have been selected because they align the TASO Sexual Prevention (Other) approach to the National HIV/AIDS Strategic Plan (NSP) 2007/08-2011/12. The interventions also respond to the gaps in the national HIV response as identified by the UHSBS and other key studies. The interventions are also backed with evidence of their effectiveness. The geographic coverage will include the catchment area served by the 11 TASO Centres located in Entebbe, Gulu, Jinja, Masaka, Masindi, Mbale, Mbarara, Mulago, Rukungiri, Soroti and Tororo (each Centre serves the host district and 3 to 4 neighboring districts). The coverage will also include the areas served by 11 indigenous organizations that will be identified by TASO through competitive local RFAs in 2009/2010. The TASO-supported Sexual Prevention (Other) activities will have partnership and referral linkages to other services/platforms within TASO and other health service delivery partners in the targeted communities. Sexual Prevention (Other) activities will also promote AB prevention approaches, HIV Care/Support and HIV Treatment services by TASO and other partners.

Mechanisms to promote quality assurance will include: ensuring adherence to national and international quality standards and policies; conducting regular refresher training for service providers; rigorous support supervision of service providers; support supervision training; technical support visits to teams and partner sites; conducting QA meetings by service delivery teams; generating regular client satisfaction feedback; and availing standardized QA materials. Evaluation and monitoring of Sexual Prevention (Other) activities will be guided by the TASO Performance Monitoring Plan (PMP) which is based on the rich TASO M&E experience and the lessons and good practices gained from a quarter a century of the national HIV response. The TASO PMP is also aligned to the Performance Measurement and Management Plan for the NSP 2007/8-2011/12 and the PEPFAR Results Frameworks. The PMP will guide assessment of progress for all Sexual Prevention (Other) activities. The PMP will outline the Sexual Prevention (Other) activities, baseline values and targets, performance indicators, sources of data, methods of data collection, frequency of data collection and responsible persons. The PMP will enable availability of accurate and timely Sexual Prevention (Other) data for tracking progress; and availability of reliable and timely information to support decision making.

During FY 2010, TASO will enhance laboratory infrastructure at TASO Centres in the districts of Jinja, Kampala, Masaka, Masindi, Mbale, Mbarara, Rukungiri, Tororo and Wakiso. This will focus on consolidating automation of laboratory processes; enhancing Quality Assurance (QA) of laboratory services; capacity building for laboratory personnel; ensuring reliable supply of laboratory reagents and consumables; reviewing laboratory guidelines and standard operating procedures; and improving the laboratory information management information system (LIMBS). Through this TASO will improve the quality of complementary medical services, as well as contribute to systems strengthening for public health facilities and districts where TASO Centres are located.

During the period, TASO will conduct 42,000 diagnostic laboratory tests for the targeted and/or eligible clients through the supported laboratories annually. These tests will comprise of 20,000 HIV antibody tests, 12,000 TB tests (sputum smears) and 10,000 syphilis diagnostic tests. TASO will partner with MOH to refresh Master Trainers for each of the 11 TASO Centres. The Master Trainers will in turn train the staff of their respective TASO Centre and partner organizations. TASO will procure the necessary equipment for Health Care Waste Management including colour coded waste bins, sharps disposal containers, protective clothing and wear. TASO will also work in partnership with public health and municipal authorities to ensure proper disposal of Health Care Waste.