More than 200 teenagers, mostly aged 16 and 17, arrived at health centers in the San Miguelito district on Sunday to get the subdermal contraceptive implant, a method that prevents pregnancy for several years. In private clinics, this method can cost up to 400 dollars, so many young people took advantage of the medical campaign to access the treatment for free. The demand was so high that several teenagers were left waiting, confirmed Algis Torres, regional health director in San Miguelito. In San Miguelito alone, 2,260 teenage pregnancies were registered last year, a figure that reflects the magnitude of the problem and weaknesses in sexual health guidance and prevention. According to studies by the United Nations Population Fund, teenage pregnancy also hits the country's economy. Only 14% of young women who become mothers during adolescence manage to finish university studies, while the percentage rises to 43% among women who have their first child in adulthood. Furthermore, the study reveals another worrying fact: 9 out of 10 teenage mothers had their child with a partner older than them, often by more than five years, which uncovers a social problem that continues to go unnoticed. The event was organized by the Ministry of Health (MINSA) and the procedure was carried out free of charge. The implant, which is placed in the inner part of the arm, releases hormones that prevent ovulation for 3 to 5 years. Before the procedure, the teenagers had to meet certain medical requirements, such as not being pregnant or having a history of breast cancer or liver tumors. The issue concerns the authorities. Panama loses nearly 2% of its Gross Domestic Product, some 1,500 million dollars, due to costs related to early motherhood. The impact is also felt in education.
