40% reduction in maternal mortality in the past 25 years in the world/ About 300,000 mothers die annually due to pregnancy complications

Afghan Voice Agency (AVA) - Kabul: The ceremony celebrating World Health Day with the slogan "Caring for mothers and newborns is an investment for the future" was held at the Ministry of Public Health with the presence of government officials, representatives of international organizations and health institutions.

 

Sheikh Mohammad Taher Halim, Head of the Office of the Minister of Public Health, referred to the special place of health in Islam and emphasized the importance of maintaining human health and wellness, and considered observing health tips as a form of worship. He also called on international organizations to cooperate with the Islamic Emirate in addressing environmental problems and air pollution in Afghanistan.

 

Maulvi Abdul Wali Haqqani, Deputy Minister of Health Services of the Ministry of Public Health, also referred to the importance of health in Islam and considered the provision of equitable, quality and comprehensive health services as one of the priorities of the Islamic Emirate, and emphasized the development of these services and the establishment of health centers throughout the country. He also announced the launch of comprehensive vaccination programs to eradicate diseases.

 

Mark Hutchinson, Deputy Director of the United Nations Population Fund for Afghanistan, pointed out that maternal mortality has decreased by 40 percent worldwide since 2000, and warned that these advances are not noticeable in crisis-affected areas with weak health systems. He added that women in war-affected countries are twice as likely to die from complications of pregnancy and childbirth than the global average, and that widespread access to midwifery services could reduce maternal and newborn deaths by two-thirds.

 

Sayed Abdul Hakim Danish, Representative of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), expressed concern about the health situation in Afghanistan, emphasizing the importance of childhood in the development and future of society, and called for joint cooperation between all domestic institutions, international organizations, and the public with the Ministry of Public Health to reduce existing health challenges.

 

Mukta Sharma, Deputy Director of the World Health Organization in Afghanistan, announced that the organization is launching a year-long campaign to eliminate preventable maternal and newborn deaths under the slogan “Healthy Beginnings, Promising Futures.” Noting that every seven seconds a mother or newborn dies due to preventable problems and nearly 300,000 women die annually due to pregnancy complications, he called the situation in Afghanistan worrying and emphasized the need for greater investment in measures to protect mothers and newborns.

 

Sharma identified limited access to healthcare, war, and a shortage of female health workers as risk factors for the lives of women and infants in Afghanistan, and called for a strong commitment from governments, donors, and communities to reduce maternal and child mortality.