. . WOMEN’S EQUALITY . .
Received at CPNN by email from Search for Common Ground
The Taliban recently decreed that women and girls are no longer permitted to receive technical medical education (previously an exception to the standing ban on girls’ schooling), which includes midwifery, nursing, dentistry, and other medical professions. This shift will have significant impacts on women’s access to healthcare and means that there is now zero access to higher education for Afghan women.
In light of these changes, women trained as midwives are now more essential than ever. To address a growing need, our team in Afghanistan worked with experienced midwives to establish 10 midwife-led units in November 2024.
Frame from Search for Common Ground video
These brave and talented women are carrying the responsibility to protect maternal and reproductive health in a country where women often have few options.
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Protecting women and girls against violence, Is progress being made?
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Key highlights of the units include:
° Fully equipped facilities providing all medical tools and resources for comprehensive midwifery services
° Educational materials to guide women on family planning and maternal health
° Knowledgeable, professional staff of midwives offering expert advice and quality care
° Community outreach to engage local leaders and residents, raising awareness of services.
Afghan women often carry invisible burdens—fear, isolation, and uncertainty about the future. Yet, even in the face of these challenges, they are finding ways to bring hope to each other.
But the journey is far from over. Afghanistan has the highest rate of infant mortality in the world, and the eighth-highest rate of maternal mortality. Women’s access to healthcare remains dire, and with escalating challenges, the need for support is greater than ever.
Every donation carries the potential to save lives and offer a future where Afghan women and their families are not left behind.
In Afghanistan, our team is courageously carrying hope for a healthier tomorrow. Will you carry that hope with us?
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