Inside Afghanistan’s maternity health crisis after US aid cuts | BBC News

Key Concepts:

• US aid cuts in Afghanistan
• Closure of medical clinics
• Maternal mortality
• Newborn mortality
• Lack of access to healthcare
• Taliban's ban on female education and training in healthcare
• Humanitarian crisis
• Internal issues

Impact of US Aid Cuts on Healthcare Access

• Clinic Closures: Over 400 medical centers across Afghanistan have closed due to US aid cuts.
• Chaogani Village: The clinic in Chaogani village, which served thousands in eight villages, was shut down.
• Increased Maternal Mortality: The closure of clinics has led to a rise in maternal deaths, with villagers reporting multiple deaths during childbirth.
• Difficult Terrain: The mountainous terrain of Badakshan makes access to medical facilities challenging, especially for pregnant women.

Case Studies of Maternal Deaths

• Medamo: A woman from Chaogani village died shortly after childbirth at home because the clinic was closed. Her father, Ahmed Khan, expressed that she bled to death and the family watched helplessly.
• Bahisa's Baby Girl: Bahisa's baby girl died soon after birth at home. She highlighted the lack of pain relief and medical assistance compared to the clinic.
• Shaaz: Abdul Wakil's wife, Shaaz, gave birth in a car on the way back from a closed clinic and died along with the baby.

Overwhelmed Hospital and Resource Depletion

• Badakshan Provincial Hospital: The main public hospital in Ferzabad is overwhelmed due to the closure of district clinics.
• Dangerous Journey: The journey to the hospital is dangerous, with a case mentioned of a newborn baby's neck snapping on the road.
• Gynecological Ward: The gynecological ward is chaotic and overcrowded, with women who have suffered miscarriages lacking proper recovery space.
• Aid Cuts to Hospital: The hospital itself is facing aid cuts, with funding 70% lower than three years prior.
• Zora Sharan: A woman who suffered her third miscarriage reported bleeding severely and not having a place to sit.
• Increased Mortality Rates: Maternal deaths are projected to increase by 50% this year, and newborn deaths have already surged by roughly a third.
• Baby Asthma: A newborn baby, named Asthma after her mother, suffered asphyxia and requires oxygen, with uncertain chances of survival.

Taliban's Restrictions on Female Education and Healthcare

• Ban on Higher Education: The Taliban banned higher education for women three years ago, including medical studies.
• Ban on Midwife and Nurse Training: Late last year, the Supreme Leader banned training for midwives and nurses.
• Impact on Healthcare Workforce: These bans prevent women from becoming healthcare providers, exacerbating the healthcare crisis.
• Female Students' Perspective: Two former nursing and midwife students expressed their depression and despair after their training was shut down.

Political and Humanitarian Perspectives

• Suil Shaheen's Response: The Taliban's DHA-based official, Suil Shaheen, stated that the issue of female education and healthcare access is an "internal issue" to be handled by their leadership.
• Hypocrisy Allegation: The BBC reporter questioned the hypocrisy of denying healthcare access to half the population while claiming humanitarian needs should not be politicized.

Conclusion:

The US aid cuts and the Taliban's restrictions on female education and healthcare have created a severe humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, particularly affecting women's health. The closure of medical clinics has led to increased maternal and newborn mortality rates, with devastating consequences for families. The lack of access to healthcare, combined with the ban on female healthcare providers, paints a grim picture for the future of women's health in the region. The situation is further compounded by the difficult terrain and limited resources, making it challenging for people to access the care they need.