In November 2010 Ghana attained Middle Income Country (MIC) status, and there are many indicators consistent with this status, including a National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), and strong progress against many MDG indicators, for example the eradication of polio and guinea worm.
However, despite progress in other areas, maternal health and family planning In Ghana lag behind its MIC status. Maternal mortality is high at 451 deaths per 100,000 live births, and both modern contraceptive use and family planning uptake are on the decline, while the unmet need for family planning has been rising.
DKT International Ghana started its operations in 2011; it currently has a staff strength of six with Mary Aikenhead as the Country Director. Further hiring is underway in anticipation of national sales of contraceptives in 2012. DKT Ghana will leverage two classic social marketing strategies to address the family planning situation in Ghana: driving demand via brand building that leverages mass media and non-traditional communication; and improving commodity security via broad and deep distribution of high quality, affordable contraceptives.
To that end, DKT Ghana is in the process of registering 3 brands, 5 products, and over 10 product variants with the Ghana Food and Drugs Board (FDB), with the first shipment of contraceptives expected to arrive in Ghana for distribution in early 2012. Stay tuned for more about the launch of DKT Ghana’s new brands and products.
For more information:
DKT Ghana
Director: Mary Aikenhead
PMB 99, Kanda Estates, Accra
Tel:+233(0) 302 772 799
Hs.#C327/14 Nii Boney St. Dzorwulu
Info@dktghana.org
Email: mary@dktinternational.org
