CEDAW/C/PHI/5-6 contests on HIV/AIDS and STD messages, and trained 20 peer educators and 34 barangay youth leaders. Ten peer educators organized 35 sessions, reaching 772 children and youth, almost half of who stayed with the project an average of four months; while the youth leaders and officials ran leadership and facilitation training, evaluation and planning, and activities to raise community consciousness on STD and HIV/ AIDS. The project was able to build a network of support and, in cooperation with six barangays, set up children’s desk in each barangay. Project materials are now used by the children and youth network of the National Project for Street Children and other NGOs. In 1998 and 1999, Lunduyan worked with the Social Action Council of Pampanga (SACOP), Franciscan Missionaries, and Bahay Tuluyan to integrate HIV/AIDS prevention and child rights promotion and protection into existing efforts of these organizations on issues such as land acquisition, resettlement, and poverty amelioration. 474. Another NGO, Co-op INSIGHT conducted eight training sessions for health department officers on how to mainstream gender in their projects and activities. Three sessions were held at the central office and five in regional offices. Echo trainings were also conducted for local government units. 475. The Girl Scouts of the Philippines organized sessions on nutrition (weighing, feeding and growth monitoring), personal hygiene, health and family planning; offered free dental and medical services, de-worming and immunization; and participated in seminars on oral rehydration therapy conducted by the health department. Girl scouts also worked on seed dispersal, planted herbs, and assisted communities in the construction of water-sealed toilets or compost pit, comfort rooms, and safe water systems. C. REMAINING ISSUES AND CHALLENGES 476. The government has made efforts to meet the comprehensive health needs of women. However, the needs of older women have to be addressed, as women are expected to live longer and longer. Other age groups, such as adolescents and menopausal women, are not given adequate attention. There is a need to intensify implementation of current programs and services in a holistic manner for them to adequately respond to the needs of women across the life cycle. More resources have to be provided so that health programs could expand their area coverage. There is also a need to document the specific effects of government programs and services on the health and well being of women. 477. Local government units play a crucial role in ensuring women’s health programs and services reach the communities. Issues arising from the devolution of health service delivery must be promptly addressed, and the financial and technical capability of local governments to implement programs taken into account when devolving service delivery. In addition, training and capacity building in all aspects of local governance must include gender sensitization. Several projects of the UNFPA and the European Union have started to address these needs of local government units and must be monitored for compliance with targets. Health statistics must be routinely disaggregated by sex and other attributes, most especially at the local level. 129