CEDAW/C/PHI/4 English Page 60 246. Through the Family Planning Program, new clinics were established which provide family planning information and services. 247. To amplify the initiatives related to AIDS and other auxiliary diseases, the National Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/Sexually-transmitted Disease Prevention and Control Program was launched. Among other things, the programme aims to prevent the spread of the above and complications related to sexually transmitted diseases and cushion the psychological and personal impact of the disease among individuals, families, communities and the society at large. The Non-communicable Disease Control Breast and Cervical Cancer Control Program was undertaken to reduce mortality and morbidity through early detection using breast self-examination for breast cancer and pap smear for cervical cancer. 248. Several projects have been implemented by the Department to strengthen the programmes on women's health: (a) The Philippine health development project, which aims to strengthen priority impact programmes of the Department, including those on maternal and child health and nutrition; (b) The urban health and nutrition project aims to strengthen the delivery of health services, specifically those for women, youth and children in the urban poor communities of Metro Manila, Cebu City and Cagayan de Oro City; (c) The women's health and safe motherhood project, which highlights the gaps in existing programmes for women and seeks solutions to the identified problems. 249. The National Nutrition Council (NCC), the highest policy and coordinating body on nutrition, has drafted the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition, 1993-1998. For the period 1993-1995, the Council reports implementation of the following: (a) The Home and Community Food Production Program, designed to improve family food security. It provides seeds, seedlings and cuttings to the target beneficiaries; (b) Micronutrient Supplementation and Food Fortification provides micronutrient supplements such as vitamin A, iodine and iron; (c) Nutrition Education promotes the adoption of desirable food and eating practices through the conduct of mother's classes. As of this date, the programme has conducted classes for 710,000 pregnant and lactating mothers; (d) Food Assistance provides supplemental feeding mostly for lactating and pregnant mothers. About 0.4 million mothers have been benefited by this service; (e) Barangay Nutrition Scholars involves the recruitment, selection, training and deployment of volunteers. A total of 16,000 volunteers have been trained and deployed; /...