Taliban Prohibits Women from Pursuing Nursing and Midwifery Education, Putting Afghanistan’s Health Sector in Cr!s!s
Since the Taliban regained control in 2021, they have enforced a stringent policy regarding women’s education, which is still in effect today. The UN has given it the designation, “gender apartheid.” Initially, the regulation prohibited girls from receiving an education outside of high school.
Afghanistan’s health sector is struggling with a shortage of qualified professionals. And it is expected that there will be additional impacts under this new order. According to health ministry sources, women comprise the majority of the 35,000 students in over 150 private and 10 public health institutes nationwide. These institutes offer diplomas in various fields, including midwifery, pharmacy, and anaesthesia.
“What are we supposed to do with just 10 percent of our students?” lamented one leadership of Health institutions.
Numerous institute administrators are struggling with uncertainty while they await clear information regarding the decision. Some have chosen to continue as usual without an official letter, while others have been directed to finish their final exams within 10 days.
For teachers such as Aisha, a 28-year-old instructor in midwifery, the prohibition has caused distress. “This was the sole beacon of hope for the girls and women who were prohibited from attending universities,” she mentioned, clearly upset.
The international community has criticized the decision, with the UK’s charge d’affaires voicing significant worry regarding the effects on women’s rights and access to healthcare. Experts caution that this action might exacerbate Afghanistan’s healthcare cr!s!s, resulting in women and children having even less access to resources in an already vulnerable system.
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