Ministry of health and sanitation in collaboration with UNICEF, WHO, Helen Keller international, save the children UK, Sierra Leone red cross and other stakeholders would undertake a week-long integrated health activities in 13 districts nationwide, a release from UNICEF stated.

The objective of the project was to prevent illness and death among under fives and women between the ages of 15-49 years.

The event known as integrated health week or the 'Mami en Pikin Well Bodi Week' would take place from 22 to 29 November 2008.

This campaign would coincide with the 19th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, CRC and the occasion would be used to launch the child rights act, CRA which was enacted by Parliament in June 2007. The act provides the relevant framework for the country to develop a protective environment for children as well as meeting the millennium development goals, MDGs.

The activities would include the conduction of a health fair that would provide opportunity for health professionals to reach out to especially mothers and care-givers. Among other activities include growth monitoring of children; immunization; demonstration of good nutritional practices (including exclusive breastfeeding); HIV counseling, education and distribution of insecticide treated bed nets and demonstration of hand washing with soap.

"Malaria is the leading cause of illness and deaths among children under the age of five in Sierra Leone. It accounts for over 40 per cent of all diseases reported at health facilities and over 38 per cent of deaths of children under the age of five. Neonatal tetanus is responsible for 23 per cent of infant mortality," the release stated, adding that the high rates of infant and maternal mortality in the country was linked to several factors including limited health infrastructure and misconceptions about nutrition and child care.