News & Updates from DKT
October 2022
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Dear Friend of DKT,
DKT is proud to be known as a pioneering organization that goes where others may not and gets the work done. In the months to come, this newsletter will highlight less-known areas in the world where DKT works and will feature partners and teams on the ground pushing boundaries and breaking down barriers for reproductive access.
Our teams around the world, and at HQ, are vital to our success and September was a month of team building. For the first time in two years, DKT International gathered for a leadership conference in Dakar, Senegal and our HQ staff took some much needed time for a retreat closer to DC. Highlights—and some fun photos—are embedded below.
As always, we appreciate your support and partnership. Watch this space for more exciting news from DKT in the months ahead.
Cheers,
Christopher Purdy
President
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DKT strengthens distribution in Brazzaville, launches Kiss Gold in Togo
After months of hard-work finding the right partners and distributors, DKT is now fully operational in the Republic of the Congo (Brazzaville). DKT products are available in a wide range of locations, including hair salons and telephone kiosks. DKT has distributed over 183,000 male condoms, 35,500 cycles of oral contraception, nearly 38,000 emergency contraceptives, and 95,000 misoprostol tablets, among other products—promising numbers that will lead to expansion of programming. DKT will also provide training in clinics and health centers for implants and IUDs in the months to come.
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Living up to our reputation as doers, DKT is also proud to note that our team in Togo launched our premium brand, Kiss Gold, in August with activations in gas stations and supermarkets, bringing yet another quality brand of contraception to francophone West Africa. Women in Togo have access to an expanded mix of DKT products, including implants and injectables. For a glimpse into a Day in the Life of a typical DKT sales representative, have a look at this video from Sierra Leone. | |
August was a strong month for training in South America, thanks to the DKT Academy
An estimated 2,500 professionals—1,300 in Brazil, alone—were trained by DKT staff throughout South America in August. The providers work for hospitals, universities and midwives and obstetricians’ societies and learned about IUD insertion and manual vacuum aspiration (MVA) via face-to-face and online formats in Argentina, Chile, Colombia, and Peru. This success is amplified by the recent launch of the DKT Academy in Brazil, publicized through our webinars, gynecology congresses, and Google Ads. The DKT Academy experienced a 775% increase in page views in the month of August.
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We are One: DKT decentralized teams come together for work and fun in Dakar
DKT’s decentralized model puts management, administrative, and creative decisions in the hands of our teams in the countries where we operate. The small size of DKT’s head office (about a dozen people) means that the vast majority of operations are shaped by local teams that know the marketplace as well as realities and opportunities on the ground. This results in culturally-appropriate decisions and outcomes that are based on local agency.
Those diverse teams came together last month to learn, reflect, and celebrate. September was a time of reunion for DKT International, as our global leadership teams, including marketing and sales leads, convened in Senegal for our leadership conference. DKT staff spent the week sharing best practices and strategizing about country-specific product launches, how to catch consumer attention, and the most effective ways to overcome sales and market barriers. The event also featured the groundbreaking work of DKT’s affiliates, WomanCare, Women First Digital and carafem. A bit of team-building fun was also had, as was a dance party (or two). Check out the photos below:
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Never one to be left out of the fun, DKT’s Washington, DC, team had an all-staff retreat in September. After two years of remote and hybrid work, the headquarters team enjoyed some much-needed bonding and team-building time. The HQ team headed to a historic home near the Chesapeake Bay to take in the fresh air and fun. We headed back to the office united and ready to work hard for sexual and reproductive health access. Crab cakes and bonfires were also part of the agenda. | |
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Expanding access to telehealth abortion care in the US and beyond
With at-home abortion pills now available in Minnesota, carafem stands at the forefront of telehealth abortion services. This expansion is a reminder that DKT and carafem are still committed to providing individuals with safe, affordable, and high-quality abortion care. Minnesota is the 16th among the growing list of states to offer at-home medical abortions. The success of carafem’s virtual services in the US has inspired DKT to conduct similar programs in Mexico, providing individuals with personalized medical care without the need to travel to a clinic.
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DKT raises awareness for sexual and reproductive health at parties in Brazil and Egypt | |
If you want to grab consumer attention, meet your consumers where they are. DKT Egypt found a new way to engage clients through “cafe culture,” making safe-sex quite literally synonymous with fun and games—designing Fiesta backgammon boards, playing cards, and a wheel to spin for prizes in coffee and tea shops in six different regions throughout the country. | |
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In Brazil, teams focused on where college students go to blow off steam: large parties. In São Paulo and Campinas, DKT distributed 7,000 Prudence condoms to nearly 1,500 students.
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About DKT
DKT is an innovative and adventurous social marketing organization that improves people's lives.
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DKT International
1001 Connecticut Ave. NW
Suite 800
Washington, D.C. 20036
+1 202-223-8780
info@dktinternational.org
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