The WOMEN FIRST 5km on March 13, 2011
Since 1990, Ethiopia has made remarkable progress towards improving access and use of contraceptives. For example, in 1990 women had an average of 6.4 births compared to 3.8 in 2010. Contraceptive prevalence has also increased dramatically over the period, increasing from 5% in 1990 to more than 32% in 2010.
Ethiopia’s robust economic growth and high levels of donor support suggest that these family planning indicators will continue to improve over the coming years. At the same time, more is needed to reach the large number of women not currently accessing family planning. What’s more, the country’s HIV burden, though relatively modest at 2.4%, represents a significant challenge and threat.
DKT-Ethiopia began operations in 1990 with the introduction of Hiwot Trust condoms. The program now socially markets condoms (4 brands), oral contraceptives (3 brands), an injectable contraceptive, an emergency contraceptive, and several other reproductive health and child survival products It regularly supplies 35-40% of Ethiopia’s CYPs and 75% of the country’s condoms.
DKT-Ethiopia maintains offices and warehouses across the country. The organization’s database of nearly 20,000 sales points provides real-time data that feeds back into the organization’s products and activities. DKT-Ethiopia has tapped local entrepreneurial talent through the organization’s Young Marketers (YM) Initiative. YM includes nearly 200 anti-AIDS clubs that sell the organization’s condoms. YM clubs regularly account for 25% of the organization’s condom sales.
DKT-Ethiopia provides several brands across product type in order to reach all economic segments. The organization extensively promotes several brands of condoms and contraceptives with inspirational messages linking family planning and reproductive health with a better life.
In addition to its core sales activity, DKT-Ethiopia is considered a leader in innovative programming. DKT-Ethiopia’s Wise-Up Program is one of Africa’s largest HIV-prevention programs targeting sex workers. DKT-Ethiopia’s extensive distribution of condoms with Ethiopia’s military is considered one of the program’s greatest successes.
In 2011, DKT Ethiopia sold 80 million condoms, 3.2 million cycles of oral contraceptives, and 1.3 million injectable contraceptives. In addition, DKT sold over 140,000 IUDs and over 236,000 medical abortion pills. This translates into 2,230,661 CYPs.
For more information:
DKT Ethiopia
Director: Andrew Piller
Address: Bole Kifle Ketema, Kebele 23, No. 2005, P.O. Box 8744, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Tel: 251-11-663-22-22
Fax: 251-11-663-22-23
E-mail: Andrew@dktinternational.org
Web sites: www.dktethiopia.org, DKT-Ethiopia’s Wise-Up Program
