Costa Rica’s Social Security system (CCSS) has launched a cervical cancer detection campaign targeting women residents of the Pavas canton in San José province.

According to national health statistics, approximately 350 cases of cervical cancer are diagnosed in Costa Rica each year. On average, around 140 women die annually from the disease.

As part of the campaign, healthcare workers will administer Papanicolaou (Pap) tests to at least 180 women between the ages of 20 and 64. The screenings will take place on Saturday, June 28, starting at 8 a.m., at the Óscar Arias Public Clinic in the Rincón Grande district of Pavas.

The Pap test is a routine screening procedure used to detect potentially precancerous or cancerous cells in the cervix, the opening of the uterus. In rarer cases, it can also be used to detect abnormalities in the anus, in both men and women.

Women who have not yet undergone a Pap test, including foreign residents with valid DIMEX identification cards, can learn more about the campaign by visiting the front desk at their local public health clinic (Ebais).

This initiative is part of a broader CCSS effort to reduce wait times for non-emergency medical services. A similar campaign was recently launched in Upala canton in Alajuela province.

The CCSS is the government-run institution responsible for administering Costa Rica’s public healthcare system.

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What other large-scale medical service campaigns should the Social Security system consider launching? We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com