Afghanistan: the Taliban’s restrictions on midwifery training will jeopardise the health of women and babies
The global community must advocate to sustain midwifery training and services in Afghanistan, says Sabera Turkmani Afghanistan has long had the highest maternal and neonatal mortality in the world. Recent data show that maternal mortality stands at an alarming 620 per 100 000 live births, with neonatal mortality similar.1 The health workforce is in a state of crisis, with most healthcare facilities lacking female health providers, leaving many women living in rural and remote areas without access to skilled maternity care.2 The global community must advocate for midwives in Afghanistan, whose work exemplifies the transformative nature of women’s empowerment, offering hope and care amid oppression and conflict. As a former head of the Afghan Midwives Association, I have witnessed substantial progress while working with Afghan communities. Over the past two decades, Afghanistan’s dedicated efforts to educate and deploy midwives to mostly underserved areas have led to remarkable improveme
