Dr. Najmussama Shefajo has seen a surge of patients at her private clinic in central Kabul since the Taliban banned women from nursing and midwife training courses last December. The influx began after she started hiring student nurses and midwives as employees, circumventing the education ban.
CBS News visited her clinic multiple times over the past decade, but it’s busier than ever before now. Dr. Shefajo expressed her concerns, stating, "I see my patients are very poor, they cannot pay, I cannot help them. And all the pressure comes on me and I get a headache."
Experience and Challenges
Dr. Shefajo is Afghanistan’s most experienced OB-GYN doctor with over 30 years of experience. However, the challenges she faces are mounting for both her and Afghan women seeking medical care.
- Concerns about Healthcare Shortage: Dr. Shefajo warns that the situation is likely to worsen if current policies remain in place. She stated, "The previous doctors, midwives, nurses are getting older & older & they will die. Who will provide services?"
This concern stems from a broader healthcare shortage that has been exacerbated by the U.S. withdrawal and subsequent Taliban rule since 2021.
Impact of Taliban Policies
Under Taliban rule, girls over age 12 were barred from attending school immediately after taking power last year. Experts like Dr. Shefajo fear that the consequences of this healthcare shortage could be catastrophic:
- Limited Access to Female Doctors: Women and girls can only be treated by female doctors, while male doctors can only treat women in the presence of a male guardian. This restriction could lead to an increase in mortality rates, with Dr. Shefajo warning, "For sure number of deaths will increase, and one day there won’t be females left here."
Taliban officials have disputed this characterization of their policies, claiming their goal is to "protect our daughters so we don’t have another generation like ours which was destroyed by foreign invasion."
Taliban’s Perspective
In an interview with CBS News last year, Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid shared his personal experiences, explaining how his own daughter had been forced into marriage against her wishes before fleeing abroad. He expressed concern about young people being radicalized online, particularly through social media platforms like TikTok. Mujahid stated, "We want our children not to go out into the streets… We do not allow anyone except family members to enter homes or schools."
Dr. Shefajo’s situation highlights the critical challenges faced by healthcare providers and women in Afghanistan under the current regime, raising urgent questions about the future of women’s health and rights in the country.
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