UN OCHA: Restrictions Severely Limit Afghan Mothers’ Access to Vital Health Services
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has stated that Afghanistan has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world, with approximately 600 women dying per 100,000 live births. According to the agency, restrictions on women’s participation in the health sector have seriously reduced mothers’ and newborns’ access to essential services.
OCHA emphasized that the presence of female health workers and the provision of specialized care during pregnancy and childbirth play a crucial role in saving the lives of mothers and children. However, the limitations imposed by the Taliban administration on women’s work and activities have posed significant challenges to health centers’ ability to deliver effective services.
In many areas of Afghanistan, families can only access health services if female staff are available due to cultural barriers and existing restrictions. The decreased availability of these female workers has effectively limited women’s access to critical care, creating serious risks for the health of mothers and newborns.
Humanitarian organizations have repeatedly warned that the continuation of this situation could have irreversible consequences for the country’s health indicators. Considering the economic crisis and the weakness of health infrastructure, any additional restrictions on women’s roles in the health sector place further pressure on vulnerable families and urgently require reconsideration.
