RASC News Agency: Medical professionals in Herat province report a 50% increase in maternal deaths during childbirth compared to the previous year. A doctor from Herat, speaking to RASC News Agency on Monday, May 20, noted that the rise in maternal mortality is alarming and cause for concern. He attributed the increase to the lack of specialized female doctors in health centers and hospitals, which has exacerbated the mortality rate among women in Herat.
Currently, the number of specialized female doctors in Herat has decreased significantly compared to the period of the Republic, he added. According to him, many female doctors left their jobs and the country after the Taliban took power in Afghanistan. He also pointed out that other skilled and capable female healthcare workers have been forced to stay home by the Taliban.
Another doctor from Herat’s regional hospital, who wished to remain anonymous, told RASC News Agency that one of the main reasons for the rise in maternal deaths is the lack of medical facilities in hospitals. He said that the Taliban have created a restrictive environment for all segments of society, particularly female doctors, which has severely impacted families and mothers.
He warned that if this trend continues and maternal mortality rates in Herat and western Afghanistan rise further, society will face an irreversible crisis. Ahmad, a resident of Herat, told RASC that a family member recently died during childbirth. He added that Herat’s hospitals currently lack specialists, a critical issue for the province’s residents.
Ahmed stated that if the Taliban leadership does not provide solutions for these issues, a disaster is imminent. Attempts to speak with officials at Herat hospitals were unsuccessful, as they refused to comment. It is worth noting that Herat, one of Afghanistan’s largest provinces, has a concerningly high rate of maternal mortality.
