MONITORING (SW) – The World Health Organization (WHO) announced that there is an urgent need for female health workers in the flood-affected areas of Afghanistan.
The WHO report, highlighted that women and children are the most affected by recent floods, necessitating the inclusion of female health workers in every medical team.
The report adds: “The recent floods have caused significant harm to the people, particularly women and children, making it crucial for each health team to have female health workers. So far, WHO and its partner organizations have assisted 2,400 flood-affected individuals in the Baghlan and Takhar provinces. This assistance has reached 840 women, 551 men, 599 girls, and 410 boys.”
Many families affected by the recent floods in Baghlan and Takhar have reported a lack of access to female doctors in their areas.
Saifullah, a resident of Fulul village in Burka district of Baghlan, said: “There are no female doctors; only male doctors are available, and women are treated by them.”
Khal Mohammad Mahmoodi, a resident of Chashma-e Mahian village in Ishkamish district of Takhar, also added: “There were no female doctors or midwives even in the past. Currently, health teams from government and private organizations only treat men, neglecting the women.”
However, officials from the Ministry of Public Health of the Islamic Emirate claim that both male and female health workers are actively working in the flood-affected areas.
Sharafat Zaman Amarkhil, spokesperson for the ministry, says: “It is not true that there are no female doctors at all. While some of our centers were damaged by the floods, both male and female health workers are providing services to the local population.”
Previously, Qalandar Ebad, the Acting Minister of Public Health, also acknowledged in a press conference that Afghanistan is facing a shortage of female doctors.
