The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has said that restrictions on girls’ education and women’s work in Afghanistan’s health sector have made it more difficult for pregnant women and mothers to access medical care.
In a report published on Wednesday, October 14, the organization said Afghanistan has one of the highest neonatal mortality rates in the world, while thousands of mothers also die each year from pregnancy-related causes.
UNICEF said that alongside girls being denied access to education, female healthcare workers, including midwives, have also faced restrictions.
According to the report, many pregnant women and mothers who cannot consult male doctors have been deprived of prenatal care and maternal health services.
UNICEF stressed that girls’ right to education must be restored so they can pursue their educational and professional futures.
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