The Afghanistan Analysts Network has recently announced that women’s health in Afghanistan is facing a serious crisis due to the closure of health centers, a shortage of female staff, restrictions on girls’ education, and a decrease in foreign aid.
In a report, the organization stated that access to healthcare for women, especially rural women, has become increasingly difficult in recent years. The closure of clinics, a lack of female doctors and midwives, and economic pressure on families have resulted in many women being unable to afford even the cost of traveling to the nearest health center.
The Afghanistan Analysts Network emphasized that this situation poses a more serious threat to the future of women’s health in Afghanistan, as the closure of secondary schools and universities for girls means that a new generation of female doctors, midwives, and health workers will not be trained.
The report noted that starting from early 2025, the United States, which provided about 40% of aid to Afghanistan in 2024, abruptly cut its assistance.
As a result of this reduction in aid, 422 health centers in Afghanistan have closed, according to the network.
The network also mentioned that several other donors have reduced their assistance.
Furthermore, the Afghanistan Analysts Network stated that current government restrictions on women’s travel and the requirement for a male guardian in some areas to access public health centers have made it even more difficult for women to receive medical care.
The report concluded that if secondary schools for girls and women’s education in the health sector do not reopen, the future of women’s health in Afghanistan will decline.
