A School in Afghanistan

In the New York Times July 18, Op-Ed columnist Thomas Friedman has written about his presence at the opening by Greg Mortenson of a new school in the Hindu Kush Mountains of Afghanistan. The title is "Teacher, Can We Leave Now? No." Here is the link. The school will educate both girls and boys.

The need for women’s education in Afghanistan is demonstrated by infant and maternal death rates. In the New York Times July 28 it is reported: “Afghanistan has the world’s second-highest death rate in women during pregnancy and childbirth (only Sierra Leone’s is worse). For every 100,000 births, 1,600 mothers die; in wealthy countries the rates range from 1 to 12. In one remote northeastern province, Badakhshan, 6,507 mothers die for every 100,000 births, according to a 2005 report in the medical journal Lancet. In all, 26,000 Afghan women a year die while pregnant or giving birth."
The article continues: “The deeper problems are cultural, rooted in the low status of women and the misperception that deaths in childbirth are inevitable — part of the natural order, women’s lot in life.” Girls education is an essential component for change.

Pashtoon Azfar, advocate for change and president of the Afghan Midwives Association.







For recent mortality and education satistics, and maps of ethnic and cultural divisions see this BBC link.