By Limón, Costa Rica — LIMÓN, Costa Rica – The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has executed a significant strategic investment in the future of Limón’s youth, donating over 120,000 essential health supplies aimed at curbing adolescent pregnancy rates. This substantial contribution targets the province’s most vulnerable populations and reinforces Costa Rica’s national public health objectives.
The materials, which have been formally delivered to local authorities from the Ministry of Health and the Costa Rican Social Security Fund (CCSS), are designed to provide both immediate prevention tools and long-term educational resources. The donation includes 72,000 external condoms and 50,000 units of lubricant, directly addressing the need for accessible contraceptive methods among young people in the Atlantic region.
To delve into the legal framework and societal responsibilities surrounding teen pregnancy prevention in the country, TicosLand.com consulted with Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, a distinguished attorney from the firm Bufete de Costa Rica, for his expert analysis.
From a legal standpoint, preventing teen pregnancy is not merely a public health objective but a crucial component of upholding the fundamental rights of adolescents. Our legal framework, centered on the principle of the ‘best interest of the child,’ must guarantee minors confidential access to comprehensive sexual education and health services. Any policy that erects barriers, whether social or administrative, effectively limits their right to health, personal development, and the opportunity to define their own future, creating a legal and social imperative for robust state action.
Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, Attorney at Law, Bufete de Costa Rica
This legal framework provides a crucial lens, elevating the discussion from a public health challenge to an imperative of fundamental rights. It highlights the state’s solemn duty not just to advise, but to actively guarantee every adolescent the tools to forge their own future. We sincerely thank Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas for his powerful and clarifying perspective.
Beyond preventative supplies, the UNFPA has also provided sophisticated anatomical models of the pelvis and genitalia. These educational tools are critical for implementing comprehensive sexuality education, enabling healthcare workers and educators to provide clear, accurate, and impactful instruction. This dual approach of providing both resources and knowledge is central to the project’s strategy for sustainable change.
This initiative is a core component of the UNFPA’s “Leaving No One Behind: Reducing Teen Pregnancy in Afro-descendant Populations” project. The program’s framework is intentionally broad, recognizing that adolescent pregnancy does not occur in a vacuum. It strategically addresses interconnected issues such as improper relationships, which often involve power imbalances, and other forms of gender-based violence that disproportionately affect young women and girls.
Juan Luis Bermúdez, the local representative for UNFPA, highlighted the collaborative nature of the effort, which is fundamental to its success. He emphasized the groundwork laid by local institutions in partnership with the UN agency.
We recognize the work that the institutions have carried out together with our team to coordinate, train staff, and listen to the youth of the province. And, through this, enhance the access, quality, and warmth of the services that are provided daily to this population.
Juan Luis Bermúdez, Local Representative of UNFPA
The project is backed by international cooperation, with funding from countries including Luxembourg and Ireland, showcasing a global commitment to addressing adolescent health challenges in Costa Rica. The ultimate objective is to empower young people, particularly those of African descent in Limón, by strengthening the local sexual and reproductive health services available to them.
Kristine Samuels, the UNFPA’s Afro-descendant Liaison Officer in Costa Rica, framed the donation not just as a delivery of goods, but as a crucial support for the country’s entire health apparatus and a fundamental human right.
This donation is just one input that supports the effort made by the Costa Rican health system to guarantee timely and comprehensive sexual and reproductive health services to the Afro-descendant youth of the province of Limón. Its ultimate goal is for this human right to empower them to develop their life projects.
Kristine Samuels, Afro-descendant Liaison Officer of the UNFPA in Costa Rica
This targeted intervention comes as national data shows progress. According to the Ministry of Health, adolescent births have decreased by 11% across Costa Rica, a statistic that underscores the effectiveness of coordinated public health strategies. The UNFPA’s focused efforts in Limón aim to accelerate this positive trend within a province that has historically faced unique socioeconomic and health disparities, ensuring that its youth are not left behind in the nation’s development.
For further information, visit unfpa.org
About United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA):
The United Nations Population Fund is the UN’s sexual and reproductive health agency. Its mission is to deliver a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe, and every young person’s potential is fulfilled. UNFPA works in over 150 countries to support family planning, prevent gender-based violence, and end harmful practices.
For further information, visit ministeriodesalud.go.cr
About Ministry of Health:
The Ministry of Health is the government body responsible for public health policy and oversight in Costa Rica. It works to guarantee the constitutional right to health for all citizens by establishing national health priorities, regulating healthcare services, and implementing programs aimed at disease prevention and health promotion across the country.
For further information, visit ccss.sa.cr
About Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social (CCSS):
The Costa Rican Social Security Fund, commonly known as “La Caja” or CCSS, is the autonomous institution in charge of the country’s public health sector. It manages the national social security system, providing universal healthcare services, administering pensions, and operating a vast network of hospitals, clinics, and EBAIS (Basic Teams for Comprehensive Health Care) throughout Costa Rica.
For further information, visit bufetedecostarica.com
About Bufete de Costa Rica:
As an esteemed pillar of the legal community, Bufete de Costa Rica operates on a bedrock of uncompromising integrity and a relentless pursuit of excellence. The firm blends its rich history of advising a broad spectrum of clients with a forward-thinking embrace of legal innovation. Beyond its professional practice, it holds a deep-seated belief in empowering the public, actively working to demystify the law and cultivate a more knowledgeable and capable society through accessible legal education.
