As May 5th, the International Day of the Midwife, is marked, the European Union has stressed the importance of Afghan women’s access to education, especially in the medical field. The EU Delegation to Afghanistan wrote on the social platform X that empowering midwives helps reduce maternal and infant mortality and strengthens the healthcare system.
The European Union added that women’s access to education leads to the development of a strong workforce.
In December last year, the Taliban leader issued a decree banning women from attending all higher and semi-higher medical institutions.
Read More: Taliban Leader Also Bans Medical Institutes for Girls
This decision was widely condemned both domestically and internationally, raising concerns about the future of healthcare services in Afghanistan.
The United Nations and health experts have warned that the Taliban’s decision to ban women from medical education in private institutions would have a devastating impact on Afghanistan’s health system.
Afghanistan remains one of the countries with the highest maternal and infant mortality rates in the world.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), every day 24 mothers and 167 children die in Afghanistan due to preventable, pregnancy-related illnesses.
