Kabul: Afghanistan plans to ban women from enrolling in nursing and midwifery courses, according to a report by AFP. The decision, driven by an edict from the Taliban supreme leader, has raised concerns about its impact on the country’s struggling healthcare system.
Health ministry officials stated the move would worsen the shortage of medical and paramedical professionals, further straining an already overburdened sector. “We are already short of professional staff, and this decision will lead to severe shortages,” said a ministry source.
On Monday, health officials met with directors of educational institutions in Kabul to announce the ruling. While no formal letter has been issued, directors were instructed to bar women and girls from enrolling or attending classes. The officials did not provide any justification for the decision, leaving institute managers seeking clarity amid confusion.
Institutes offering nursing and midwifery programs, which have been among the few educational avenues available to women since the Taliban's return to power in 2021, now face a grim future. Women make up the majority of students in these centers, with around 35,000 female students enrolled across 10 public and over 150 private health institutes.
Aysha, a midwifery teacher at a private institute in Kabul, shared her distress after being told not to report to work indefinitely. “This is a big shock for us. It was the last source of hope for girls and women banned from universities,” she said.
The United Kingdom's chargé d'affaires expressed deep concern over the ban, stating that it further infringes on women’s rights and limits access to healthcare for Afghan women and children.
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Institute managers have been given 10 days to conduct final exams, but many are uncertain about the future, as the lack of a formal written order has left room for misinterpretation. The health ministry's decision, if implemented, risks exacerbating the healthcare crisis and denying thousands of women opportunities for education and employment in Afghanistan.
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