Dr. Lourdes started her medical career at Niloufer Hospital. Later she obtained her diploma in Obstetrics and Gynaecology from the University of Dublin, Ireland. Shortly after marriage Dr. Lourdes received a second proposal from her husband Dr. Leslie – a business one this time – to start a small clinic. The birth of Stork Home was a time filled with anticipation for Dr. Lourdes, especially being a new mother herself. She was encouraged by the moral and financial support of her family. Together with her husband she took the plunge, and the rest is history.
A physician by profession, Dr. Leslie had many more facets to his personality. He was firstly a humane doctor whose patients knew they were always in caring hands. They fondly called him "Baba". Besides being an able administrator, he was also a keen social worker. He was a prolific and talented painter and brought to his viewers the many beautiful locales from his travels around the world. Last, but not least, Dr. Leslie was a true philanthropist, whose generosity and unsparing efforts in the cause of cancer care are well known and admired.
Dr. Evita Fernandez, a reputed and respected obstetrician with three decades of experience, is a Fellow of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, London. She strongly believes in empowering women to make choices, about issues surrounding birth. As Managing Director of the 70-year- old Fernandez Hospital her primary focus is on women, to the extent that 80% of the staff is female. She personally ensures the woman-centric care provided at all five hospital units is based on respect, kindness and compassion.
Following the HIV/AIDS epidemic, Fernandez in 1994 welcomed HIV positive women. Dr. Evita was personally involved in training all health care workers. In 2018, NACO and SAATHI recognized the hospital for providing care to the highest number of HIV positive women in Telangana.
Dr. Evita set up the Fernandez School of Nursing in 2005 and in 2008 offered free education to tribal girls from across the country who with help of State scholarships completed their Diploma in Nursing. Today we have 326 qualified registered staff nurses from various states who in pursuing a career have helped themselves and their siblings.
In 2011, Dr. Evita launched the Professional Midwifery Education and Training Programme which initiated the campaign PROMISE (PROfessional MIdwifery SErvices) – committed to creating a national cadre of professional midwives, vital to the care and delivery of low-risk pregnant women. Till date, these midwives have helped birth 7700 mothers.
A true women’s champion, Dr. Evita, makes every effort to promote natural birth while reducing medical interventions. She is outspoken on the need to reduce Caesarean Sections and make childbirth a natural and positive experience for all women.
Dr. Evita is the Managing Trustee of the Fernandez Hospital Educational & Research Foundation that works with Fernandez Hospital. The Foundation recently launched “NAARI” magazine to help women’s voices to be heard. Dr. Evita felt the need for a forum that would also include women activists and policy makers.
But the work most dear to her heart is the midwifery training of 30 nurses in Karimnagar District Hospital. The Telangana Government and Fernandez Hospital, facilitated by UNICEF are working to reduce C Sections, increase normal births and establish respectful care for birthing woman.
With her keen interest in academics, Fernandez Hospital with 8500 deliveries a year, has evolved into a teaching hospital. A prolific speaker, she has received several awards for her efforts in enhancing quality care to women of all age groups.
The Fernandez Hospital Educational and Research Foundation focuses on the education of doctors, nurses, medical technicians and school and college students. It conducts and promotes medical programmes, conferences, workshops and courses enabling doctors nurses and midwives to interact with colleagues and learn from peers.
STUDY AND TRAVEL ASSISTANCE
Study assistance is provided to poor and deserving school and college students and nursing students. Sponsorship is provided to doctors, nurses, midwives to attend conferences and workshops.
WORKSHOP CONDUCTED
In conjuction with Fernandez Hospital, the Foundation continues to receive requests from all over the country for workshops. Several have been conducted by the Hospital in citites like Warangal, Rajahmundry, Adilabad, Pune, Navi Mumbai and Trivandrum, Jaipur, Aurangabad, New Delhi, and Hyderabad.
1. Skills and Drills - Obstetric Emergencies Workshop
2. Workshop on Therapeutic Hypothermia for Neonates
3. Advanced Life Support in Obstetrics (ALSO) Workshop
4. Obstetric Emergencies and Life Support Skills Workshop (OELSS)
5. Obstetric Emergencies Workshop, GSL Medical College
6. Obstetric Emergencies Management Workshop
7. Vaginal Hysterectomy Workshop
8. Basic Surgical Skills Workshop
9. Electronic Fetal Monitoring Workshop
10. Perineal Repair Workshop
11. CPAP Workshop, Fernandez Hospital
12. Obstetric Anal Sphincter Injury Workshop
13. Instrumental Delivery Workshop
14. Colposcopy Workshop
15. Obstetric Critical Care – CME conference
16. Colposcopy Workshop
17. Update of Fetal Growth
TRAINING / OBSERVERSHIP PROGRAMMES
1. High Risk Pregnancy Observers
2. Gynaecology Observers
3. Fetal Medicine Observers
4. Neonatal Observers
5. Overseas Observers
ACADEMICS
Around 10 academic sessions are held every month for in-house doctors. Guest speakers are also invited.
PROFESSIONAL MIDWIFERY SERVICES
The Foundation is collaborating with Fernandez Hospital in promoting the concept of PROMISE – Professional Midwifery Services. The focus is on selecting the right candidates to be educated and trained as midwives and nurses within the maternity hospital environment. The two-year Professional Midwifery Education and Training (PMET) Programme, which began in 2011, brings in tutors / midwives regularly from the U.K. to systematically train batches of eight student nurses over 50 sessions. The first batch of midwives graduated at a special ceremony on 15th August 2014. Since August 2011 till March 2018, the midwives have helped birth 7700 low risk pregnant women.
“Fernandez Hospital Educational and Research Foundation”, is a trust established on 8th July 1999 to perpetuate the memory of Dr. Leslie J. Fernandez, co-founder of Fernandez Hospital, Hyderabad.
The Foundation focuses on the education of doctors, nurses, technicians and school and college students. It conducts and promotes medical programmes, conferences and workshops, enabling doctors nurses and midwives to interact with colleagues and learn from peers.
Some of the objectives under which the Foundation was established are:
1. To promote, provide and conduct Educational and Research activitites in areas of Obstetrics, Gynaecology, Neonatology and all other areas in Medicine and Surgery with an aim to find more effective ways of reducing mortality and morbidity and increase patient care and wellbeing.
2. To organise rural outreach programmes to help educate, screen and treat the population at large for all conditions relating to Obstetrics, Gynaecology, Neonatology and all other areas of Medicine and Surgery.
3. To sutdy and research various medical and social problems faced by men, women and children of all ages in India and abroad.
4. To undertake studies and research activities for Governmental Organisations/Bodies, NGO’s and private national or international agencies, companies, organizations etc.
5. To organise Free training programmes in all the above areas and grant such diplomas, certificates or recognition as the Foundation may prescribe or deem fit from time to time.
6. To undertake, organize and facilitate study courses, conferences, lectures, seminars and the like to promote the aforesaid objects.
7. To provide and arrange for collaborative study, research and investigations and for exchanges if ideas, experience and biological samples for promotion of better understanding between organisations and individuals having similar objects and interests in India and abroad.
8. To undertake and provide for the publication of journals, research papers, monographs and books in the furtherance of the aforesaid objects.
9. The trust has been formed to help support the Medical and Social and Vocational education, Training and Research and provide other benefits primarily to persons or groups belonging to the Indian Christian Minority Community. The help and support to be granted as mentioned above, however, shall not be limited or restricted to persons of any particular caste or creed or religion.
