Pretoria — African countries need to come up with ways to tackle the growing challenge of infant mortality that has plagued the continent in the past few years, says Social Development Minister Edna Molewa.

"It's a challenge and an area we need to tackle as both the region and the continent," said the minister speaking on the final day of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Minister's Conference on Population and Development on Friday.

The minister added that Africa cannot speak of proper population development if the continent continued to be ravaged by maternal mortality problems.

At the two-day conference, the ministers reviewed the implementation of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICDP) Programme of Action.

This year marks the 15th anniversary of the ICPD and presents an opportunity for the countries to review how they have implemented the it and how they will fulfill the commitments still outstanding.

Minister Molewa said the high number of ministers who turned up for the conference was a testimony to the continued commitment to the ICDP among the countries that make up SADC.

They include officials from Malawi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Botswana, Swaziland, Uganda, Seychelles, Mauritius, Namibia as well as the United Nations Population Fund and Partners in Population and Development

"I thank everybody who has been present throughout the conference. We were deeply encouraged by the keen interest that was collectively displayed through active participation, as shown by the questions and the constructive contributions made," the minister said.

The ICDP was adopted during the International Conference on Population and Development in Cairo in 1994. The 20-year programme of actions focuses on individuals' needs and rights, rather than achieving demographic targets.

The ministers are expected to discuss and adopt the SADC's report on the ICDP later on Friday.