OCHA, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs for Afghanistan, has once again criticized the interim government’s ban on girls’ education in medical institutes, stating that this action will have catastrophic repercussions.
In a report published by the organization, it was stated that the continuation of this situation will deepen the health crisis in Afghanistan and also negatively impact the health of mothers and newborns.
OCHA stated: “This ban not only threatens women’s access to education in the medical field, such as midwifery, nursing, dental prosthetics, and laboratory work, but also creates serious problems for women in healthcare in Afghanistan, jeopardizing the implementation and sustainability of health programs in the long term.”
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs emphasized that the ban on girls’ education in medical institutes directly affects over 45,000 female students in Afghanistan.
The report noted that among these, 4,500 girls have recently graduated from this field, and another 9,800 girls were expected to celebrate their graduation soon.
The UN added that this decision will lead to a decrease in female specialists in the medical field in Afghanistan and further restrict women’s access to healthcare services.
The United Nations also expressed concern that the decision to ban girls’ education in medical training facilities will result in an increase in maternal and neonatal mortality in Afghanistan.
The report stated: “The ban on midwifery and other medical training is likely to have catastrophic consequences for maternal and neonatal mortality and morbidity, especially given that Afghanistan already ranks among the countries with the highest maternal mortality rates in the world.”
The UN estimates that more than 620 mothers die during childbirth for every 100,000 live births in Afghanistan, a figure that is nearly three times the global average.
Furthermore, it was noted that more than 24 newborns die for every 1,000 live births in this country.
The United Nations reiterated that it continues to work with its partners to improve health conditions and particularly provide health services to the citizens of Afghanistan, including mothers and newborns across the country.
It is worth mentioning that the current government has imposed severe and repressive restrictions on women over the past three years.
