The School of Medical Sciences, University of Hyderabad (UoH) organised a guest lecture entitled “Safe Motherhood for Women’s Health” by Dr. Evita Fernandez (FRCOG), Managing Director and Senior Consultant Obstetrician at Fernandez Hospital, Hyderabad on 19th August 2019.
Vice-Chancellor Prof. Appa Rao Podile presided over the proceedings.
Prof. P. Prakash Babu, Dean i/C School of Medical Sciences, UoH while delivering the welcome address emphasised that the school is particularly focussed in pursuing the engagement of society through innovative courses, research and advocacy mechanisms. He said that the school is and will play a leading role in “University Social Responsibility”.
The Vice-Chancellor in his remarks conveyed that although a full-fledged hospital which is a pre-requisite for a school of medical sciences like in the university, opportunities to work with hospitals and programs like Fernandez hospital, UNICEF and state governments should be utilized by the school’s faculty, scholars and students. He encouraged more academic and turnkey research collaborations going forward.
Dr. Evita Fernandez in her guest lecture highlighted the importance of Respectful Maternity Care (RMC) as a fundamental human right as recommended by the World Health Organization (W.H.O). She said that every mother has a right to quality, respectful and dignified childbirth. Elaborating on the proposed solutions for ensuring safe motherhood she emphasized on the importance of trained midwifes in caring for pregnant women during pregnancy and childbirth. She said presence of selective companion during labor had a positive impact on mothers’ health and encouraged potential parents to demand for this in any facility that they prefer to deliver. While highlighting how the PROMISE (Professional Midwifery Services) program that she is committed and dedicated made a difference to normal child birth she also informed that this is the best way to deal with alarming increase of C-sections across the globe and in India. She also shared the experience in Telangana state and how midwives were making a difference and how now the whole country wants to learn and adopt the program established in Telangana state.
The guest lecture concluded with a very interesting question and answer session by the invited guest speaker.
Narrative write up: Dr. Vamsi and Prof. Shamanna
Photo credits – Mr. Jirra Karthik