A midwife in Helmand province’s Shenkar district has reportedly died after allegedly consuming poison pills following her dismissal from employment, according to local sources.
Sources reportedly told media outlets that the midwife was named Nadia and that the incident occurred after she lost her job. The reports emerged on Saturday, with local sources confirming the death and providing limited details about the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The reported case has drawn attention to the difficult circumstances facing women working in Afghanistan’s healthcare sector, where employment opportunities for women have been severely affected by restrictions and institutional changes under Taliban rule.
Midwives and other female healthcare workers continue to play an important role in providing essential medical services, particularly in rural and remote areas where access to healthcare remains limited. Any loss of trained healthcare personnel can further strain already vulnerable communities.
However, details surrounding Nadia’s death remain limited, and the reported connection between her dismissal and the incident has not been independently verified. Further information about her employment, the circumstances of her dismissal, and the events leading to her death was not immediately available.
The incident, if confirmed, underscores concerns about the pressures faced by Afghan women in the workplace and the broader challenges confronting the country’s healthcare system.