Afghanistan Faces Maternal, Infant Health Crisis, WHO Reports

The World Health Organization (WHO) has raised the alarm on Afghanistan’s worsening maternal and child health crisis, Khaama Press reported today.

According to a report released on Sunday, June 9th, 24 mothers and 167 children are dying daily across the country from preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth.

The WHO stated that an additional $352 million in funding is urgently needed to combat this serious risk of maternal mortality, warning that without this necessary humanitarian aid, mortality rates will continue to rise.

The report revealed that in 2023, 428 fixed and mobile health centers were forced to close in Afghanistan due to severe budget shortages. This has affected access to healthcare for over three million people, including more than 600,000 children under five and 240,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women.

“Women in Afghanistan are facing increased vulnerability, and the country now has the highest maternal mortality rate in the world,” said Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “The international community must take action to prevent further tragedies and provide the critical funding required to save the lives of mothers and children.”