Padma Shri Dr Armida Fernandez

Dr Armida Fernandez, founder and chairperson of Mumbai-based non-governmental organisation SNEHA (Society for Nutrition, Education and Health Action), has been conferred the Padma Shri 2026 in recognition of her decades-long dedication to newborn health, maternal care, and uplifting marginalised communities. An eminent neonatologist, Dr Fernandez had served as professor and head of neonatology, and later as the dean at Lokmanya Tilak Municipal General Hospital (Sion Hospital) in Mumbai.

Throughout her distinguished career, she had played a pivotal role in saving countless newborn lives and strengthening systems to reduce neonatal mortality across the region. Among her landmark contributions was the establishment of Asia’s first Human Milk Bank at Sion Hospital in 1989. This pioneering initiative provided life-saving donor milk to infants whose mothers could not breastfeed, dramatically improving survival for premature and low-birth-weight babies. The model she created went on to inspire similar milk banks across India, marking a milestone in neonatal care. After retiring from government service, she co-founded SNEHA, in 1999, which has, for over 25 years, adopted a community-centred approach to address critical challenges such as child malnutrition, maternal and neonatal mortality, adolescent anaemia, gender-based violence, and palliative care. The NGO has directly impacted over four lakh women, children, and families, ensuring dignity, support, and access to essential services for those living in vulnerable urban communities.

Although born in Dharwad and based in Mumbai,   Armida is the daughter of the illustrious Goan professor-poet Armando Menezes from Sao Mathias in Divar, Goa. She completed her MBBS in Hubballi and her postgraduate studies at KEM Hospital, Mumbai.

*Collected from the public domain

*Updated on 26/01/2026