Healing for the Women of Afghanistan

Thanks to Gerardine Luongo for this guest post about what powered women can do for our sisters.

For almost three decades Afghan women were hidden under burquas and in homes they could not leave without a male escort. The impact of this oppression is evidenced by the horrifyingly high maternal and infant death rates among Afghan women. Indeed, each day 44 Afghan women will die giving birth.

During the rule of the Taliban (1996 – 2001), women were treated worse than in any other time or by any other society. They were forbidden to work, leave the house without a male escort, not allowed to seek medical help from a male doctor and not allowed to practice medicine! Women who were emerging leaders of their nation –doctors, teachers, lawyers were forced into horrific conditions.

But despite many gains in Afghanistan, women continue to lag behind their male peers in health and education status. Today, less than 20% of girls attend school regularly, 1-in-8 women die giving birth, child-brides and the sale of women into marriage are still common, victims of rape are stoned for shaming the family and no Afghan court will condemn an Afghan man for domestic violence. We have only to imagine what will be the impact on women’s health of spending five or more years literally without sunlight and natural vitamin D.

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Research has long indicated that the health of women is a good barometer of the health of nation. One indicator of state stability is maternal mortality. Improving the education levels of women directly leads to improved health outcomes…providing girls with just a sixth grade education leads to a 50% reduction in a nations maternal mortality rate.

The US and other nations must implement strategies that empower Afghan women to become leaders and primary influencers in their country. But government action alone is insufficient. A number of organizations exist to educate and improve the lives of Afghan women. CURE International for example is increasing the number of well-trained female physicians who can then train others. CURE International’s hospital and clinic in Kabul are dedicated to promoting reproductive health among Afghan Women.

Unfortunately, today (May 2009) more Afghan provinces and regions are in the control of thugs and extremist groups such as the Taliban than just a year ago…

American Women have the power to impact the lives of Afghan women through advocacy, service and philanthropy. Many groups are waiting for your support.

For the women of Afghanistan, time is running out.

Healing changes everything.

For more information contact gluongo@cureinternational.org

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