The Social Security System (CCSS) has launched a nationwide campaign that offers free subdermal contraceptive implants to teenage girls as part of a push to promote reproductive health and prevent unplanned pregnancies.

The Adolescent Clinic of the CCSS will administer the etonogestrel implant,  sold under brand names such as Nexplanon and Implanon,  which is placed under the skin of the upper arm. The implant is highly effective for at least three to four years, and some studies indicate it can last up to five years; fertility typically returns quickly after removal.

Dr. Rita Peralta-Rivera, a gynecology specialist and coordinator of the clinic, said the campaign “aims to promote sexual and reproductive health and prevent unplanned pregnancies among young people.”

Interested teens can register online by completing a Google Docs form and selecting an available appointment date. Alternatively, appointments may be requested in person at the Adolescent Clinic inside the Rafael Ángel Calderón Guardia Public Hospital in San José.

The implant campaign is part of a broader CCSS effort to reduce wait times for non-emergency services. The Social Security system also recently launched a cervical cancer screening campaign for women in San José 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