SIERRA LEONE— DKT International, a leading global not-for-profit family planning & reproductive health provider, in its mission to cater to women’s health, will provide low-cost Manual Vacuum Aspiration (MVA) devices to hospitals in Sierra Leone.
By providing these MVA devices, DKT is targeting to help in the prevention of complications due to miscarriage, sexually transmitted diseases i.e., from excessive bleeding, and infection, and the prevention of unwanted pregnancies.
DKT is one of the world’s largest providers of family planning, HIV/AIDS prevention, and safe abortion products and services.
The NGO has been operating in Sierra Leone for about five years, and one of its mandates is to supply hospitals, and other health centers with Manual Vacuum Aspiration (MVA) devices.
The organization will collaborate with the Ministry of Health in Freetown and train healthcare professionals in the provinces for the inclusiveness of those women living in remote communities.
DKT also assured they would provide supplies to NGOs that are involved with the health of women, but they ensure that there is space created for the training of medical staff.
Country Manager, DKT International Sierra Leone, Michael Enema, told Concord Times in an exclusive interview that his organization is poised to decrease complications due to miscarriage to the lowest level in the country.
According to him, the maternal mortality rate in Sierra Leone is the highest in the world with 1,360 mothers dying in every 100,000 live births.
Enema added that DKT would continue to apply savvy private sector marketing techniques, cutting-edge technologies, and inventive advertising to ensure that women and men have the products, knowledge, and services they need, when and where they need them.
Simple & effective ways to save women’s lives
Enema informed the Concord Times that the MVA procedure is performed to induce abortion, as a treatment for incomplete spontaneous abortion (otherwise commonly known as miscarriage) or retained fetal and placental tissue, or to obtain a sample of the uterine lining (endometrial biopsy).
“The Manual Vacuum Aspiration is considered generally safe, and serious complications rarely occur,” added Enema.
MVA is a medical procedure and a life-saving mechanism for women, and it is a medical device used to save the lives of women that experience miscarriage.
Most times miscarriages occur during the early stage of pregnancy-from the moment the woman gets pregnant to 14 weeks.
He also insisted different things can occur within the 14 weeks of pregnancy that can lead to the loss of the pregnancy.
Enema also added that whenever there is a miscarriage, it was important that a procedure is carried out to prevent further damage to the woman.
“I encourage women to be visiting the hospital for antenatal care at least to get them checked, more especially with specialized doctors at Princess Christian Maternity Hospital (PCMH),” Enema added.
Since the Princess Christian Maternity Hospital is a tertiary hospital and is a reference center in Sierra Leone.
The hospital is one of the easiest to access and has one of the highest concentrations of medical personnel in terms of Gynaecology and other professional staff.
DKT also celebrated five years in Sierra Leone
Since 2018 when DKT started its operations in Sierra Leone, the lives of many women have been saved.
Before they started operations, the death rate was high but as it stands, it has drastically been reduced.
The government and other partners are doing something right although a lot more needs to be done.
With the support of DKT International, DKT’s contraceptive sales began in Sierra Leone in July 2018.
Moreover, they now provide a full range of contraceptive products, healthcare provider training, and family planning “market storms” in such places as red-light districts, DKT’s efforts resulted in 11,630 CYPs in 2018, with only 5 months of operation.
DKT’s objective in Sierra Leone has been to raise the contraceptive prevalence rate, thus reducing maternal mortality, infant mortality, and unwanted pregnancies by ensuring that high-quality contraceptives – including condoms, IUDs, implants, and other contraceptives – are widely available and easily affordable.
Moreso, women targeted products through the Lydia brand with three female contraceptives under the brand Lydia, including oral contraceptive pills, IUDs, and the Lydia Postpil (emergency contraceptive pill).
In terms of quality options for HIV prevention, which is also a priority for DKT Sierra Leone, two condom brands, Fiesta, and Kiss, are targeted to young and older male and female consumers respectively.
DKT Sierra Leone that they have ensured access to family planning while triumphing over differences in culture, economics, politics, gender, and religion.
Moreover, they will continue to support women in choosing a better future for themselves, despite the setbacks and challenges they face.
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.
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