Tajudeen Oyewale, the representative of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), has stated that health workers in Afghanistan, particularly female vaccinators, play a vital role in delivering vaccination services to children.

Oyewale wrote on Sunday, June 7, on his X account that vaccination of children continues in health centers and that these services are critical to children’s health.

He further referenced an example of these services in Mazar-i-Sharif, noting that at one health center, UNICEF staff are assisting children through the vaccination process.

Oyewale stated that this process includes reviewing vaccination cards, guiding families on essential vaccines, and recording children’s health information.

Oyewale’s emphasis on the role of women in health services comes as Taliban-imposed restrictions have broadly curtailed access for women and girls to education in schools, universities, and health institutes.

UNICEF had previously warned that, as a result of these restrictions, more than 25,000 female teachers and health sector workers could be pushed out of the workforce and educational system in Afghanistan by 2030.