Step into the legacy of Juana Miranda. This is the Escuela Obstetricia Juana Miranda. Here in Quito Ecuador stands a testament to a remarkable woman. Juana Miranda was Ecuador’s first female university professor. She dedicated her life to improving women’s healthcare.
Juana began her journey at the San Juan de Dios Hospital in the 1850s. She was driven by compassion and a desire to help her community. This was a time of severe poverty in Ecuador. Many women died in childbirth. Juana’s dedication to her patients brought her widespread recognition.
At only 19 years old she became the abbess of the Hospital de Caridad. She provided equal care to all including prisoners. She even served as a major sergeant during the Ecuadorian-Colombian War. Imagine her strength and dedication.
Later she studied under Amelia Sióv de Bezacon. Amelia was a midwife from Paris brought to Quito to teach obstetrics. Juana graduated as one of the first midwives. But after President García Moreno’s assassination the school closed. Undeterred Juana fought tirelessly to reopen it.
In 1866 Juana had a paid job a rarity for women in Quito. She earned 96 pesos a year. Her hospital experience set her apart. She continued her education graduating as a medical student in 1874. She even directed a military hospital in Chimborazo Province.
She returned to Quito determined to teach. In 1891 she became Ecuador’s first female university professor. She taught obstetrics at the Central University of Ecuador. This school was unique being the only female professional school in Ecuador at the time. One of her students was Isidro Ayora who later became the director of Quito’s women’s hospital.
After a long struggle Juana founded a women’s hospital in Quito. It was called the Vallejo Rodríguez Asylum. She even became faculty chair representing obstetrics at the university. She held this position from 1900 to 1907. This building this school stands as a lasting memorial to her tireless work.
The Escuela Obstetricia Juana Miranda honors her legacy. It continues her mission of providing quality healthcare for women. Her struggle her achievements remain an inspiration. This place embodies her dedication to women’s health and equality. It reflects her extraordinary contribution to Ecuador.