In brief
The Taliban has ordered the closure of midwifery and nursing courses across Afghanistan, leaving thousands of women without education and limiting their career opportunities. This decision, coming alongside a broader pattern of female education suppression, has led to distress among students and raises concerns for women's healthcare in the country.
Afghan women training to become midwives and nurses received devastating news when they were directed not to return to classes, effectively shutting down their last educational avenue. Reports from various institutions in Afghanistan confirm the Taliban's instruction to halt these essential training programs. Students shared their anguish in online videos, highlighting a grim situation that further restricts their access to education and career paths.The BBC has yet to secure official confirmation of the closure from the Taliban's health ministry; however, this action aligns with the group's longstanding establishment of stringent policies against female education. Since the Taliban's takeover in August 2021, girls have been barred from schools, and the promise of readmission has not yet been fulfilled as the authorities focus on implementing an "Islamic" curriculum.For many women, the possibility of becoming nurses or midwives represented one of the few educational opportunities remaining under the current regime. This profession is especially critical, as cultural restrictions only permit male medical professionals to treat women in the presence of a male guardian. Until recently, midwifery training offered a light of hope for women seeking careers in a severely restricted environment.In a previous report, the BBC highlighted a Taliban-run midwifery training program, where women fought to obtain skills that would benefit their communities. However, uncertainty has plagued the women regarding the longevity of this opportunity. One trainee expressed immense pride in her studies, stating that her family supported her educational journey despite the personal sacrifices involved.At this point, the future for approximately 17,000 women currently enrolled in training programs remains uncertain. Even as students prepared for the end-of-semester exams, they received only fleeting instructions to leave their classrooms with no time for farewells. Fear pervaded the atmosphere as students were cautioned against lingering in fear of possible repercussions from the Taliban's enforcers.Women's healthcare in Afghanistan is particularly affected by the fallout from these educational restrictions. The United Nations has reported a pressing need for an additional 18,000 midwives in the country, which already struggles with the alarming statistic of 620 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births, according to the World Health Organization.As the landscape for women's rights further deteriorates in Afghanistan, the implications of these educational restrictions on healthcare and overall societal wellbeing remain to be seen, leaving a troubling void in female empowerment and access to necessary medical care.
