Over 50% of Afghans in Remote Areas Lack Access to Health Services, Says Taliban Minister

The Taliban’s Public Health Minister Qalandar Ebad said that 50 percent of Afghanistan's population in remote areas lack access to health services. At the meeting of five regional countries in Tehran, Ebad asked for support to address the health needs in Afghanistan.

According to Fars News Agency, Ebad stressed that the Taliban needs technical assistance and support of G5 member states including Iran, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Iraq and the United Nations for the healthcare system of Afghanistan.

The Taliban’s Public Health Minister said that the group tries to provide health services to Afghans and said that the challenges Afghanistan faces is broad.

The lack of healthcare facilities and services is one of the main challenges of the Afghan people, especially women and children.

Currently, Afghanistan has the highest maternal mortality rate in the world. In addition to that, the Taliban has imposed severe restrictions on women which has banned Afghan women from receiving health services and access to female health workers.

The Taliban’s ministry of promotion of virtue and prevention of vice has ordered women not to show up for work without a male guardian.

Based on the orders attributed to the Taliban leader from Kandahar, women are prohibited from working in domestic and international organisations.

However, according to Fars New Agency, the Taliban's health minister has denied any ban on work of female health workers in Afghanistan.