Freetown — Ministry of social welfare gender and children's affairs in collaboration with Save the Children Sierra Leone, International Rescue Committee, UNICEF and other partners Friday organized a one-day national children's conference at the presidential Lounge in Freetown.

The conference was to motivate children to actively participate in working for their survival in their respective communities.

Save the Children health programme co-coordinator Saffa Smarth said there was a new interest at both national and international levels with regards child health programmes and that his organization has consolidated programmes in eight chiefdoms in the Kailahun district. He said the programme also extended its activities in six communities in Freetown and Pujehun to address the infant and mortality rate in the country.

Smarth said child healthcare in the country would be very difficult if parents were not well informed about the current health situation.

"We will continue to support our partners to provide proper healthcare services at various communities across the country for the survival of children," he said.

Deputy minister of social welfare Jenneh Kandah said the conference was part of their activities to mark this year's day of the African Child and that it provided the opportunity for children to discuss and make recommendations for prompt actions.

"While acknowledging the strides made in addressing the issue of child survival in the country, we must not lose sight of the fact that we are far from reaching one of the goals of MDG which calls for reduction in the rate of infant mortality by 2015," she said adding that the infant mortality figure in the country was still high and unacceptable.