AIC to rebrand to TAF in ending HIV stigma

By Ben Musanje

23^rd June 2023

The Aids Information Centre (AIC) has established a partnership with 13 non government organizations to adopt joint treatment care and support to people living with HIV/AIDS in the country.

Code named “The AIC Partnership (TAP)”, the partnership is a consortium or a coalition aimed at bringing together different constituencies to meaningfully contribute to the national HIV/AIDS response.

The consortium comprises AIC, Baylor- Uganda, Uganda Network of AIDS Service Organizations (UNASO), National Forum for People Living with HIV/AIDS in Uganda (NAFOPHANU), and Uganda Network of Young Positives Association (UNYPA) among others.

The AIC Executive Director, Dr. Kenneth Mugisha while delivering his speech at the centre’s 14^th Annual General Meeting and celebrating their 33 year establishment on Friday in Kisenyi, Kampala Central noted that the partnership will have a multi-sectoral approach of providing treatment care to HIV/AIDs patients in an effort to end the epidemic as a public health threat by 2030.

Dr. Mugisha further says that they have also laid down plans of rebranding from AIC to Trust AIC Foundation (TAF) with the aim of ending stigma among the clients and the public.

He further says that in their 10year strategic plan called Preparedness and Response team, they intend to offer a number of services to their clients’ lives providing information on HIV and TB as well as other non communicable diseases and will also admit patients that require admissions.

According to the Uganda Population-based HIV Impact Assessment 2020-2021 report, Uganda reduced the HIV prevalence among adults from 18% in 1992 to the current 5.2%.

Sheila Kyobutungi, the UNSAID HIV Prevention Team Leader while representing the Guest of Honour HE Natalie Brown urged AIC to focus on improving quality and equity of health services of all Ugandans amidst the challenges.