Evita Fernandez bags Pride of Telangana Award

Hyderabad Dr Evita Fernandez, Chairperson, Fernandez Foundation, has won Pride of Telangana award in the Achiever Category for her service in making childbirth a natural, positive experience and reduce Caesarean sections. With three decades of experience as obstetrician, she has been vocal to promote normal birth and reduce interventions.

Evita's parents Leslie and Lourdes Fernandez started Fernandez Hospital in 1948 with just two beds. Now the clinic has transformed into a foundation with five hospital units delivering 10,000 babies a year under Evita's leadership. After managing the 70-year-old Fernandez Hospital for decades, she decided in August 2018 to convert the private corporation into a "Not-for-Profit" Foundation.

She set up the Fernandez School of Nursing in 2005, and in 2008 offered free education to tribal girls from across the country, who, with the help of State scholarships completed their Diploma in Nursing. Today, there are 326 qualified registered staff nurses from various States who are successful in their careers and are supporting their families.

The jury consisted of Jayesh Ranjan, Principal Secretary, I&C and IT, Telangana, Dr GV Rao, Director, AIG Hospitals, Kamini Saraf, Socialite, Lakshmi Manchu, actress, and Manish Bhartiya, Director, Ratnadeep Retail.

In 2011, Evita spearheaded the midwifery initiative with the PROMISE (Professional Midwifery Services) Campaign that is committed to creating a national cadre of midwives who are vital in the care and delivery of low-risk pregnant women. In 2011, she also launched a two-year Professional Midwifery Education and Training (PMET) programme. Evita also works closely with the Ministry of Health & UNICEF to increase normal births and train nurses and doctors in public hospitals.