HERAT CITY (SW) – Several infertile women in Herat province, suffering from the anguish of childlessness, speak out about their struggles due to the high costs of infertility treatment.
They have been living for years with the hope of having a child but are constrained by financial barriers that prevent them from accessing adequate healthcare within their province.
Karima, a 32-year-old woman, laments, “I have been married for 16-17 years, but I have not been able to have a child. I’ve visited government hospitals, but unfortunately, they had no treatments or medications. I also went to private doctors; I’m under treatment, but they keep advising me to continue, which I can’t afford anymore due to our very weak economic situation.”
Similarly, Soraya, another resident of Herat facing infertility, shares her ordeal: “It has been three years since I got married, but I haven’t been able to have a child. Once I went to Pakistan, they said come back again; how is it feasible to go to Pakistan every time for treatment? I’ve visited private clinics in the city several times; they charge for every test, which is beyond my financial means.”
Atefa Amini, a physician at a maternity hospital in Herat, acknowledges the influx of infertile women but points out the center lacks the resources to accommodate them. “Unfortunately, our economic situation doesn’t allow us to refer patients elsewhere. We don’t have a referral system; even if they were referred, individuals can’t afford the fees for simple tests or consultations.”
On the administrative side, Ghulam Mohammad Hanifi, Deputy Head of Public Health Directorate in Herat, assures efforts are underway to address these challenges. “The priorities of the Ministry of Public Health are clear. Infertility isn’t the top priority, but efforts have been made in maternal and child health. However, this doesn’t mean there haven’t been measures taken in reproductive health,” he said.
It is worth noting that despite the ongoing infertility challenges faced by women in Herat, there is still no dedicated infertility treatment center established in the country. This forces those who can afford it to seek treatment either at health centers or abroad.
