KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) says that Afghanistan urgently needs an additional 18,000 trained midwives to meet the demand for skilled birth attendance.
In a report on Wednesday, August 21, UNFPA stated that the shortage of midwives could endanger lives and undermine women’s bodily autonomy on a large scale.
“Afghanistan has long had one of the highest rates of maternal deaths in the world, with one woman dying every hour due to pregnancy and childbirth complications – deaths that could be largely preventable with adequate skilled midwifery care,” the UN agency said.
Even before the Taliban’s takeover in August 2021, Afghanistan had one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world, with 620 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2020.
The Taliban’s ban on women’s education and the training of new female doctors, who are essential for maternal healthcare in a conservative country where most families prefer female doctors, has worsened the situation for women.
Furthermore, the UN and rights groups have been warning of a sharp increase in child marriages in Afghanistan, largely due to the Taliban’s restrictions. This often leads to early pregnancies and significant health risks for young mothers.
Earlier, UN Women highlighted that if the Taliban’s restrictions on girls’ education continue, child marriage among Afghan girls could increase by 25%, early childbearing by 45%, and the risk of maternal mortality by 50%.
UNFPA says that the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan has severely impacted public health workers across the country, as most hospitals and clinics are either closed or struggling with a shortage of skilled staff.
The UN agency also highlighted the detrimental impact of the Taliban’s restrictions on women, saying that these have drastically reduced women’s ability to work and travel, making conditions increasingly perilous for women, girls, and future generations in Afghanistan.
Marzia Ahmadi, a midwife who runs a family health house in central Bamyan province, told the UN agency that despite the challenges, she did not close her clinic because pregnant women needed her help.
“If I had left, a mother or a baby could have died. I stayed because people, especially pregnant women, needed my support,” she said. “I stayed because people needed my support and I had to serve them in such crucial situations.”
