Dire Situation for Mothers and Infants in Afghanistan Under Taliban Rule
In a report, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned that every day, 24 mothers and 167 children across Afghanistan lose their lives due to preventable pregnancy and childbirth-related illnesses. The organization announced that it needs an additional $352 million in funding to tackle this crisis and provide essential health services.
Severe budget shortages have led to the closure of 428 fixed and mobile health centers in 2023, making access to healthcare difficult for more than three million people, including 600,000 children under five and 240,000 pregnant and lactating women. Furthermore, 310 other health centers are grappling with resource scarcity.
Drought, recent floods, the spread of infectious diseases, and food shortages have exacerbated the situation. The WHO warned that the ban on girls’ education in schools and universities could also worsen conditions for women in Afghanistan. Without adequate funding, maternal and child mortality rates are expected to rise.