The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), in a statement regarding the ban on girls attending medical institutes, expressed hope that through constructive engagement with Kabul authorities, positive steps could be taken in this regard.
The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) also reacted to this issue, stating that if these restrictions persist, they will negatively impact Afghanistan’s health system. Meanwhile, the latest statistics indicate that Afghanistan currently needs over 18,000 midwives due to a severe shortage.
The OIC stated: “The General Secretariat has been quite hopeful that through its committed and constructive engagement with the de facto authorities in Kabul, positive measures would be deployed to lift any ban on Afghan young women and girls to access education in line with OIC’s Resolutions and women’s rights in Islam.”
UNAMA has also called on the Islamic Emirate to reconsider this matter.
In a statement, UNAMA said: “UNAMA urges the de facto authorities to reconsider implementing the reported directive in view of its negative implications on the lives of Afghan women and girls and all people across the country.”
UNICEF and the Swedish Committee for Afghanistan, in separate statements, have described the shortage of female doctors, midwives, and nurses as a serious threat to the health of women and children in Afghanistan.
The Swedish Committee for Afghanistan wrote: “The IEA must immediately reconsider the ban and invest in quality education for female health professionals. The international community must also find ways to support Afghan women and their essential role in healthcare.”
UNICEF noted: “Afghanistan is already facing a desperate shortage of trained health workers, especially women. Female health professionals play a vital role in ensuring that women receive adequate maternal care, that children are vaccinated, and that communities have access to essential health services.”
France and Germany have also expressed concern over this decision.
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock stated: “Life for women in Afghanistan is already like prison. The Taliban’s suspension of women’s health education not only denies basic healthcare & education, it condemns countless lives. By banning midwifery education, the Taliban are literally erasing Afghanistan’s future.”
Although the Islamic Emirate has not officially commented on the closure of medical institutes for girls, some female students from an institute previously told TOLOnews that they were informed verbally about this issue. They were reportedly given a ten-day deadline to complete their exams.
“Please! The focus should not only be on girls’ education. There are other sectors that also require attention. If only girls’ education is suspended indefinitely, it will cause a major disaster. My request is for them to reconsider this decision,” Shabana, a midwifery student, told TOLOnews.
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), in a report published in August, warned that Afghanistan urgently needs 18,000 skilled midwives and that failing to meet this immediate need could endanger many lives.
“Healthcare personnel reduce maternal mortality. If we don’t have or face a shortage of healthcare personnel, which we are already experiencing, a disaster could occur in the next three or ten years that might even be recorded globally,” said Shinkai Wardak, a doctor.
To date, the Islamic Emirate has neither officially confirmed nor denied the ban on medical education for girls.