News and Updates from DKT International |
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Dear Friend of DKT,
It’s no small feat to be hopeful in the current global, political, and economic climate, but at DKT, our teams around the world continue to move sexual and reproductive health markets forward in their respective countries and regions. We have lots of forward movement to report out this month: product launches in Francophone West Africa; sales of previously, restricted products in Honduras; the return of product sales in South Sudan; and a restart of operations in Sudan.
DKT is focused on creating more initiatives that reach vulnerable groups, specifically, young people. An exciting example of this effort is showcased through DKT Mexico’s “DKT School” program—a bold effort that aims to change the very nature of sex education in the country. Thus far in 2023, a team of 20-29 trainers have reached an estimated 434,000 students in Mexico’s high schools and middle schools. Read more about their work below.
Looking ahead to November, DKT is supporting Men’s Reproductive Health Month and World Vasectomy Day (WVD) with its flagship 24-hour “Vasectathon” event starting on November 16. WVD plays a pivotal role in raising awareness about male involvement in family planning and safe sex. This year’s festivities are being broadcast from La Paz, Bolivia, and include training sessions with medical students in Africa and Latin America. Read more about WVD’s planned events below.
As always, we thank you for your continued support and engagement.
Cheers,
Christopher Purdy
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Francophone West Africa becomes key market for the 3-month injectable, DepoFem
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DKT International FWACA and DKT WomanCare Global expanded the launch of DKT’s 3-month injectable contraceptive (branded as DepoFem) last month in Benin, Burkina Faso, and Mali. The launch brought together politicians, medical providers, pharmacists, and NGO leaders to coincide with the roll out of the product in pharmacies and clinics. We look forward to providing DepoFem at scale with governments (at a nice cost savings to them) to ensure the availability of high quality, affordable contraception at scale and provided in a sustainable way for the well being of all women in Africa.
The FWACA team also launched oral contraception pills (OCPs) in Benin and Cameroon over the last months, as part of our effort to expand access.
If you want more information about our programs in Francophone West and Central Africa (FWACA), please contact our Regional Manager, Ms. Nedjma Benzekri.
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Honduras opens market to previously- restricted products | |
Honduras now allows Emergency Contraceptive Pills (ECP) to be sold without restrictionss and DKT Latin America North (LATAN) celebrated this achievement with the launch of its ‘PostPil’ brand in Tegucigalpa. | |
ECs had been banned from sale in Honduras for the past 13 years, but the country now allows for the provision of both ECs and misoprostol pills. DKT sold 7,000 EC in Honduras in August and an estimated 41,000 misoprostol pills in September, with 114,000 misoprostol pills sold thus far in 2023. | |
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Plans in place to reopen Sudan office in Port Sudan
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One of our fastest growing and most promising programs at the beginning of 2023 was Sudan, where DKT was training doctors, selling a range of products, and scaling up prior to the outbreak of war in April. Because Sudan’s capital Khartoum remains a dangerous place, the DKT team will move operations to Port Sudan, where hostilities have been less frequent. Prior to the war, DKT Sudan sold IUDs, condoms, and MVAs in the country, generating 30,000 CYPs in a few months’ time.
For more information on how to support our program in Sudan, please contact Asraf Fouad, our MENA Regional Director at afouad@dkteg.com.
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Despite the fresh conflict in South Sudan, DKT logs significant new sales | |
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We are pleased to report that DKT East Africa resumed sales of several contraceptive products in South Sudan in September. Teams reported selling nearly 200,000 condoms, 8,000 OCPs, 32,000 ECs, and 360 packs of abortion pills last month.
Our partner, FP2030, discussed this crisis in their blog this past month, stating that “a worsening crisis in South Sudan caused by internal conflict has left over four million people displaced. An estimated 85% of these are women and children. This conflict and resulting mass displacement has prevented many people, including women and girls, from accessing essential healthcare services – particularly family planning information and services, which are not always included in crisis response.”
For more information on how to support DKT’s program in South Sudan, contact DKT East Africa Regional Director Mary Aikenhead.
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Sex education gets real with a little help from DKT Mexico
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DKT is well-known for battling sexual health and safe abortion stigma. We push against societal boundaries, but only as far as our local teams are willing to do so, and they lead the way forward within the norms of their own political and popular culture.
For the past year, DKT México has conducted an extensive outreach program called “DKT School” to reach Gen Z and the next generation, Gen Alpha, where they are: in high school and even in middle schools. The bold effort redefines sex education, moving it from a dry, neutralizing, shame-filled experience to a fun, interactive event that opens the door to conversations about all types of sexuality, teen pregnancy prevention, pleasure, and fun. Teams have held a total of 1100 events throughout the country since January, educating more than 434,000 students.
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Congratulations to DKT International Vietnam, which celebrated its 30th Anniversary in October with an extravaganza event in Hanoi. The country has changed dramatically since DKT's entrance into the market in 1993 and now has a contraceptive prevalence rate (CPR) of around 75% (30 years ago, it was 27%) and a total fertility rate of a little over two children per women (down from four children per woman 30 years ago). DKT Country Manager Rodrigo Portugues and DKT International COO Daniel Marun spoke at the event about those who have delivered on DKT’s mission through the years, building a solid, sustainable organization that is now poised to expand into the region. This effort is being led by DKT Vietnam's Marketing Manager, Hiep Pham, and others who will take the operation fully into the future. | |
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World Vasectomy Day aims to "Get to Equal" from Bolivia
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DKT has long supported the need for men to be equal partners when it comes to sexual and reproductive health in a relationship. In Egypt, teams are currently working with Facebook on a multi-stage campaign collaborating with a males-only “pinprick” Facebook page, Telegram channel, and website that is considered Egypt’s leading men’s sexual health and wellness platform. In the Philippines, 69 vasectomies were performed in September.
World Vasectomy Day (WVD) is well known for raising awareness on male involvement in family planning and safe sex. This WVD will broadcast its 24-hour “Vasectathon” from November 16-17 from Bolivia, featuring partners and co-hosts in as many as 20 countries. In-person and virtual training with doctors and medical students in Bolivia and other countries will be held throughout the month.
Other featured events include:
- A Symposium on New Masculinities during the Vasectathon on November 16
- A celebration of Men’s Reproductive Health on November 18
- 16 days to Stop Violence Against Women on November 25
For a detailed list of WVD’s events in the month of November, please visit their website.
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Marketing Highlights for October
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Using humor and the power of innuendo to market condoms in Mozambique | |
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Some things don't need an explanation and are just good: E Bem Bom…
DKT Mozambique launched its latest Prudence condom and lubricant television commercial last week to run four times a day on the country’s national broadcasting network. The 30-second ad is full of humor and innuendo and, true to the DKT style, encourages the audience to have fun and be sex-positive. Huge congratulations to the marketing team: Megan Groening and Elisabeth Muhale!
| | At DKT, we often use lifestyle marketing, including fun and adventure, to build the case for adopting healthy behaviors around sex and sexuality. That approach has proven successful and DKT’s condoms are the #1 brand in the country. The most recent condom campaign for Premiere condoms features two, sexy young people rock climbing. | | |
About DKT
DKT is an innovative and adventurous social marketing organization that improves people's lives.
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1001 Connecticut Ave. NW Suite 800 Washington, D.C. 20036
+1 202-223-8780
info@dktinternational.org
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