Lack of Healthcare Facilities in Remote Areas of Herat Puts Women and Newborns at Risk

Kokcha News Agency – Women in remote areas and outskirts of Herat are facing significant challenges due to the lack of healthcare facilities, especially for maternal and child health. Many women report that during childbirth, they face severe shortages of doctors, medicines, and basic healthcare services, which sometimes result in the death of the mother or the newborn.

Mehramah (pseudonym), a resident of Herat’s outskirts, says she has repeatedly visited local clinics but found no medicine or treatment available. She adds, “I came from Badghis, and wherever I go, I tell them I’m pregnant and need treatment, but no one gives me medicine or admits me to the clinic.”

Another pregnant woman, Sar (pseudonym), says that midwives and doctors refuse to attend to her on weekends, forcing her to give birth at home. She explains, “We don’t have the money to go to the city or pay for hospital services in the city.”

Safoora (pseudonym), a resident of Zindajan district, says her home is one to two hours away from the nearest clinic, and she struggles to find transportation. “We are poor, and traveling to the clinic is harmful to both the child and me,” she says.

Marwa (pseudonym) also complains about the lack of healthcare facilities in her area, stating that there are no specialized doctors or adequate medicines. “If someone has appendicitis or needs to give birth, they lose their life because there is no access to a doctor,” she says.

Shafiqah (pseudonym), who accompanied a patient to the hospital, recounts a tragic story of a woman who lost one of her twins due to delayed access to healthcare. “We went to the blood bank, but we were too late. The poor child was hospitalized for three nights and then passed away,” she says.

Dr. Samira Shahir Rahimi, an obstetrician and gynecologist, highlights the limited access to healthcare services in Afghanistan, especially in remote areas. She emphasizes that pregnant women should have at least four consultations with a specialist during pregnancy to prevent complications.

Dr. Rahimi also points out that the reduction in healthcare aid, particularly from the World Health Organization, has led to the closure or limited services of many clinics, increasing the risk for mothers and newborns. She calls on the international community to pay serious attention to the health situation of mothers and children in Afghanistan.

The Taliban’s restrictions on women’s education and healthcare have further exacerbated the crisis. Female doctors are barred from registering for specialized medical exams, and no woman has been allowed to participate in the medical council exams conducted by the Taliban.

The World Health Organization has reported that 24 mothers and 167 newborns die daily in Afghanistan due to preventable causes. The UN has warned that Afghanistan is facing a rapidly worsening humanitarian crisis, with over 4.7 million women and children in urgent need of treatment.