Afghanistan maternity care crisis threatens mothers and children

A report by the NGO Emergency highlights the severe obstacles Afghan women face regarding maternity care, including pregnancy, childbirth, and postnatal periods. Five years after the withdrawal of international forces and the return of Taliban rule, maternal mortality rates remain among the highest in the region.

Key barriers identified include high costs for transportation and medicine, a shortage of female medical personnel, insufficient services, and systematic restrictions on women's rights. The report, titled ‘Nascere sicuri, cure affidabili: il report di Emergency sulla maternità in Afghanistan’, utilizes data from Emergency facilities, questionnaires from staff at 32 public health structures, and community discussions.

The humanitarian crisis is exacerbated by a drastic drop in international funding, regional tensions, and natural disasters. Currently, 21.9 million people in Afghanistan require humanitarian assistance, with 14.4 million in need of healthcare. Emergency continues to provide free assistance to women and children in five provinces, including the Anabah maternity center in the Panjshir Valley.