Paulina Quintao – Residents of 244 Timor-Leste sukus do not have access to health services in their villages.

Member of Parliament Domingas Alves da Silva, alias Bilou-Mali, expressed concern and called on the Ministry of Health to take action. "All the people have the right to access health assistance however in reality many communities do not," she said.

She said residents of villages in remote areas were more likely to use traditional medicine as they did not have easy access to health facilities.

"A real example is that of the suku of Aitana in the Lacluta sub-district," she said. "There are many people living there however there is no health post."

She said the problem was widespread with many people dying of treatable conditions. Pregnant women were at particular risk, she said.

Health Minister Sergio da Costa Lobo said just 198 sukus had health posts. "I have asked the district directors to do a re-orientation of primary care in order to assure services continue functioning," he said.

He said communities needed to contribute through providing health staff. Lobo said the ministry planned to build permanent posts in sukus in the next few years.

Source: http://www.thediliweekly.com/en/news/news/12866-rural-health-crisis-deepens