Paulina Quintao – Women in rural areas feel disenfranchised and disconnected from Timor-Leste's development process, according to the Parliamentary Women's Group of Timor-Leste (GMPTL).

GMPTL President Josefa Alvares Pereira Soares said there was little in the annual state budget to benefit rural women. She said it was important to hold dialogues with these women to explain how the budget was executed and to see how those in rural areas lived.

"People in rural areas often complain about (a lack of) medicines, doctors and maternal health care as well as schools and roads in poor condition," she said.

GMPTL has held several discussion sessions in remote areas such as Ermera's Fatubolu village, Manatuto's Soibada village and Dato Tolu in Covalima. GMPTL appealed to the government to take into consideration remote citizens, in particular, women.

Bauguia resident Zelia da Silva expressed concern that those in rural areas did not have access to basic necessities. "We still don't have clean water, electricity or health services," she said.

Rural residents were often forced to rely on traditional medicines to treat illnesses and many women give birth at home. "The health facility is five kilometres away – far away – so we can't got there, we have to just stay at home," she said.

The Demographic Health Survey shows that during the period in 2009/10, 68 per cent of expectant mothers accessed health care during their pregnancies though 78 per cent gave birth at home. About 61 per cent were assisted by family members, 19 per cent by a traditional midwife and 15 per cent gave birth without any assistance.

Source: http://www.thediliweekly.com/en/news/gender/13050-rural-women-disenfranchised