CEDAW/C/PHI/5-6 These cover provision of vitamin A, iodine and iron to pregnant women and lactating mothers; promotion of the addition of micro-nutrients to processed food; nutrition education to address malnutrition among preschool children, pregnant women and lactating mothers; and promotion of animal dispersal and of vegetable gardens in homes, communities and schools. 457. The health department and six local governments have set up 44 Women and Children Protection Units in regional, district and provincial hospitals in the country. Collaborating Centers for Anti-Violence Against Women and Children have been set up in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao to provide one-stop services for survivors of violence. 458. A module on “Integrating Domestic/Family Violence Issues in the Nursing Curriculum” was developed and endorsed by the Commission on Higher Education. The curriculum is currently being piloted at the Silliman University College of Nursing. A similar module is being developed for the medical curriculum in coordination with the Association of Philippine Medical Colleges. This initiative will enable future doctors and nurses to respond with relevance to victims and survivors of violence. 459. Local-level measures to improve the well being of women who worked as entertainers in former military bases are notable. At Olongapo City, the health and social welfare offices provide regular monitoring of the physical condition, medical assistance, skills training, and scholarship for children of HIV/AIDS victims. Their parent effectiveness services facilitate the integration with the community of former entertainers and their families. NGOs like Buklod and WEDPRO are also working with women in prostitution in Angeles and Olongapo. Health programs for children, including girl children 460. A country program for children implemented by the government and UNICEF provides, among others, nutrition education, micronutrient supplementation, family food production and food security, early childhood care and development and nutrition advocacy among decision-makers. It targets all children 0-59 months, male and female, in selected provinces and municipalities in 12 regions. 461. Three health-related issues affecting girl-children were identified in 1995 and continue until the present: vulnerability of the girl-child to iron deficiency anemia, goiter, and infection due to malnutrition owing to traditional practices favoring other members of the family; adolescent pregnancy and motherhood; and vulnerability of girl children to HIV/AIDS and other STD due to premature and unprotected sexual relations and being victims of sexual abuse and exploitation. As of January 2002, the health department AIDS Registry recorded 40 girl children and 23 boy children who are HIV-positive. 462. The health department developed policies and guidelines on micronutrient supplementation and provided technical and logistics assistance to all local governments. In 1998, it supplied iron drops to children with low body weight, which included 57 percent of the female children and 56 percent of the male children; and Vitamin A to pre-school children ages 12-59 months, which covered 71 percent of female children and 70 percent of male children. Inadequate funds hindered the department from providing iodized oil to girl children with goiter. The department 125

Select target paragraph3

Connect to a paragraph
Connect to an entity
Disable highlights
Add to table of contents