The Taliban has issued a directive barring Afghan women from pursuing nursing and midwifery education, dealing another blow to women’s access to education and exacerbating an already dire healthcare crisis in the country. According to reports, five institutions across Afghanistan confirmed the closure of classes for female students, who were abruptly ordered to vacate their classrooms. The decision marks a continuation of the Taliban’s restrictive policies on women’s education and employment, further isolating them from public life.
Classrooms Shut Down Without Warning
Students training as midwives and nurses told BBC News they were instructed to leave their classrooms immediately, with no prior warning. A student recounted the harrowing experience, describing how they were told not to remain on the premises out of fear of Taliban arrival. “We were only given time to grab our bags and leave. Everyone was terrified,” she said. For many students, these courses were the last hope for a meaningful career after being banned from universities and secondary schools.
Videos shared online showed emotional scenes of women quietly protesting as they exited their institutions, singing songs of defiance while others wept at the abrupt end of their studies. “This was our only hope,” said a midwifery teacher in Kabul. Despite the disruption, institute directors were told during a private meeting with the Taliban’s health ministry that female students would no longer be allowed to attend.
A Critical Blow to Healthcare Access
The suspension of these programs is a significant setback for Afghanistan’s healthcare system. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that the country has one of the highest maternal mortality rates globally, with 620 deaths per 100,000 live births recorded in 2023. Furthermore, the United Nations estimates Afghanistan requires an additional 18,000 midwives to meet its healthcare needs.
Midwives and female nurses play an essential role in Afghanistan’s healthcare system, particularly since cultural restrictions often prevent male doctors from treating female patients without a male guardian present. The ban on training women in these professions threatens to cripple maternal and child healthcare services even further.
“An Affront to Women’s Rights”
International reactions to the ban have been swift, with officials condemning the Taliban’s move. The UK’s Charge d’Affaires to Afghanistan called the decision “another affront to women’s right to education,” warning that it would severely restrict access to healthcare for women and children in Afghanistan.
Health officials and institute managers within Afghanistan have expressed concerns over the long-term implications of the ban. Some have sought clarification from the Taliban leadership, while others are trying to find ways to complete the academic year for affected students. However, there has been no official confirmation from the Taliban’s Ministry of Health, leaving students and faculty in limbo.
Women’s Rights Under Siege
The recent ban on Afghan women pursuing midwifery and nursing education is a stark reminder of the ongoing assault on women’s rights under the Taliban. This decision further restricts women’s access to education and professional opportunities, deepening the crisis in Afghanistan’s healthcare system.
This latest decision follows a series of restrictions imposed by the Taliban since their return to power in August 2021. Girls have already been barred from attending secondary school and university, and most professional opportunities for women have been systematically erased. The midwifery and nursing programs were among the few remaining avenues for women to pursue education and careers.
The ban leaves thousands of aspiring female healthcare workers uncertain about their future. “They told us to wait until further notice,” said one student. “But we don’t know if we will ever be allowed to return.”
The Taliban’s decision not only undermines women’s rights but also threatens the stability of Afghanistan’s fragile healthcare system. With fewer trained professionals, the already precarious state of maternal and child healthcare is likely to worsen, leaving millions of Afghan women and children at greater risk.
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