The Taliban has banned women from training as nurses and midwives in Afghanistan, striking another blow to female health and education.

The ban was announced on Monday during a meeting in Kabul by officials from the ministry of public health, acting on orders from Haibatullah Akhundzada, the Taliban supreme leader.

The directive blocks women from attending medical training institutes and applies to both private and government-run institutions.

It means women will no longer be able to enter work in critical fields including midwifery, nursing, dentistry and laboratory sciences, effective from Dec 3, further restricting opportunities for Afghan women.