Threats Against Female Medical Staff in Afghanistan

As described in the previous post, a female aid worker was murdered in Afghanistan last week.  This was not an aberration - if anything, the Taliban go out of their way to target women working outside the home.

In a recent IRIN news article, Nazia - an Afghan woman working at a mother and child clinic in the southern city of Kandahar - described how she has been repeatedly threatened by the Taliban:

“I work in a mother and child health clinic in Kandahar city. Through my work I not only support my five-member family but also serve women and children who are in need of medical care. It is a sacred duty to heal the illnesses of poor people. The medical profession has nothing to do with politics and military issues.

Unfortunately, I have been threatened by the Taliban to quit my job. They throw warning letters into our house and also call me on the phone, and have threatened to kill me if I continue to work outside.

They [the insurgents] have proved their cruelty. They assassinated several women in Kandahar. A while ago they killed my colleague, Zargoona, who was also a medical worker. She was very passionate about her work and was always happy to serve pregnant women.

Who will treat diseased women in this country, if no woman is allowed to work as a doctor or nurse? Many women are already dying from diseases and lack of access to health services. I do not know why they [the insurgents] want women to suffer diseases.

I also cannot leave my job because it’s the only means of supporting my family. My children will starve if I have no income.

I do not work as a matter of luxury. I work to serve destitute and needy women and children, and also to support my family. I will continue to work, no matter how serious the threats are.”

[Photo of an Afghan woman and her daughter from the AP]