WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--DKT International, one of the largest providers of family planning products and services in the developing world, has pivoted operations by utilizing non-traditional marketing and distribution methods during COVID-19 to reach at-risk populations in underserved and war torn countries around the world with access to quality health services when and where they need them.
“Sexual and reproductive health is an often overlooked, but vital aspect of not only health equality but also sustainable development. During the pandemic, many health systems have been overwhelmed making the provision of important family planning services more challenging than ever,” says Chris Purdy, CEO of DKT International. “However, DKT has worked tirelessly to ensure that women and couples not only have access to family planning products and services but understand the importance of these services through innovative, educational marketing avenues.”
Some recent examples of DKT initiatives that further sexual and reproductive health equality include:
- In the rural district of Barong, DKT Brazil has taken to the streets to conduct rapid testing of STIs (such as HIV, Hepatitis B and C and Syphilis) for sex workers, transsexuals, and local workers in the regions of Barra Funda, Frei Caneca and Largo do Arouche. In addition, in Maceio, DKT partner Milka Freitas worked with local communities to conduct educational sessions on sexual education and health, self-esteem and self-knowledge with a focus on preventing teenage pregnancy and reducing prejudice.
- DKT Mozambique is recruiting and training low-income, refugee women to become “activistas” to help educate other women and direct them safely to free DKT mobile family planning clinics. DKT Mozambique financially supports these women by paying them for their work. Through this system, activistas become empowered advocates within their community, supporting women by normalizing and promoting family planning, recruiting others to join them, and ultimately leading to more economic and reproductive independence throughout the community.
- DKT Bolivia is harnessing the power of social media to educate and rally interest in family planning from young people and women by working with famous influencers to create educational video content. One influencer, Sandra Alcazar spoke to her primarily female audience of more than 700,000 people to remind them to engage in protected sex during Carnival. Additionally, DKT partnered with soap opera star Ale Pinedo, to share information about different condom products to 30 million of his fans during his program, Con El Corazón, simultaneously streamed on both TV network ATB and on his social media.
- Alongside the Ministry of Health of the Republic, DKT Liberia is distributing abortion care commodities for free to the public. At a ceremony celebrating the donation, the Minister of Health promoted a new law helping women access voluntary abortion services to mitigate the maternal mortality rate in the country. In addition, DKT trained private service providers from the Northwest rural areas covering three counties (Bomi, Grand Cape Mount, and Gbarpolu) on family planning products, their benefits, how to do youth-friendly counseling, and abortion care.
- DKT Mexico has relaunched their female condom brand with a specific marketing campaign that educates on how to use female condoms and their benefits with a focus on the LGBTQIA+ community. DKT is also relaunching DKT School focusing on educating high school and university students about the importance of responsible sexuality via digital conferences and informational modules.
- Despite ongoing conflict in Yemen, DKT Middle East was able to break through into the market and provide Yemeni women with more contraceptive options. DKT successfully supplied the first order of contraceptives to Yemen, delivering 18,000 IUDs, 10,000 units of emergency contraception, and 60,000 units of spermicidal suppositories.
“From condom vending in Iran to viral dance TikTok campaigns in the Philippines, DKT works to meet individuals where they are, even in a pandemic. The more normal and available family planning is to people, the more they are able to take part and make active decisions about their sexual and reproductive health – an essential step to building a fairer, healthier world,” adds Purdy.
Since 1989, DKT International’s core mission has been to provide safe and affordable options for family planning and HIV prevention through social marketing in underserved countries throughout Latin America, Africa, and Asia.
