The International Labour Organization (ILO) has recently stated that social health support plays a key role in enabling effective access for women and girls to quality health services, as well as ensuring their income security during illness and pregnancy.
In a report published today (Tuesday, March 24), the organization emphasized that social support and health policies should focus on gender equality to protect women’s rights and achieve real outcomes for women and girls worldwide.
The report from the United Nations organization notes that even in countries where laws guarantee equal access to health services for women and men, labor market inequalities prevent women from benefiting equally from social advantages and health services.
It further states that many women are employed in informal jobs and receive lower wages, which limits their effective access to social health support.
The ILO added that social support policies should assist women at all stages of life, from pregnancy to old age, and align these policies with income security and health care to ensure their dignity and well-being.
It is worth mentioning that Afghanistan is among the countries facing a high rate of maternal and neonatal mortality. A lack of health facilities, limited access to specialized training, and the great distance from villages to medical centers pose serious challenges in providing services to pregnant mothers.
In many areas, women give birth at home or in small clinics, and midwives often work with minimal resources and without immediate access to specialized guidance.
