The Fernandez hospital Educational and Research Foundation is collaborating with Fernandez Foundation in promoting the concept of PROMISE. The Foundation’s Professional Midwifery Services campaign focuses on selecting the right candidates to be educated and trained as midwives within the maternity hospital environment. They will then become the frontline of maternal health provision, interacting with colleagues across primary, secondary and tertiary care services.
Pregnancy and childbirth are normal physiological processes in a woman’s life. The Foundation is committed to helping women enjoy this special journey and make choices regarding issues surrounding birth. To meet this objective, the Foundation began a two-year Professional Midwifery Education and Training (PMET) Programme in 2011 to produce competent, confident and skilled midwives. This special taskforce helps deliver simple, safe, affordable care to low-risk mothers in the community. Our midwives have supported and delivered 4026 mothers from December 2011 to September 2015.
Fernandez Foundation was established in 1948, systematically progressing into a full-fledged women’s hospital. Delivering nearly 8000 babies every year, the Hospital has the volumes and the complete range of obstetric care and birthing facilities to train nursing candidates into a cadre of highly skilled professionals. The hospital also has a full-fledged Neonatal Department, complete with NICU, as available backup in case of neonatal problems arising during the process of “natural” deliveries.
Fernandez Foundation instituted its Academics Department in 2003 to keep abreast with advances in medical information and technology, and for continuing medical education (CME) of in-house doctors and paramedics. It is now a Teaching Hospital, attracting observers and interns from all over the country and abroad. The hospital is also involved in running the Fernandez School of Nursing since 2005.
The Foundation is working in tandem with the Hospital to promote the Midwifery concept. Our ultimate aim is to reduce maternal mortality and morbidity. The Foundation’s thrust is two-pronged. While helping mothers-to-be with personalised quality care through the Midwifery programme, the aim is also to generate employment for young women, weaning them away from neglect and exploitation, and making them self-reliant and valued citizens.