Edmond Fernandes

Edmond Clint Fernandes (born 3 September 1990) is an Indian physician having public health expertise and a consultant for the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP).

He is the Founder and CEO of CHD Group, an Indian non-profit global health organisation holding United Nations Economic and Social Council special consultative Status.

Dr Edmonds is the Director of the Edward & Cynthia Institute of Public Health, an advanced technical co-operation center with Yenepoya (Deemed to be University) and a member of the Health Task Force, Disaster Management Authority, Government of Karnataka.

Through his leadership at CHD Group, Dr. Fernandes has impacted over 2.9 million lives in India and has influenced several policies around the world.

Fernandes was born on 3 September 1990 in Mangalore.

He attended Don Bosco High School, Matunga.

He completed his MBBS from Father Muller Medical College, affiliated to Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences in Karnataka and completed his MD in Community Medicine from Yenepoya University.

He was a visiting scholar to Drexel University.

He was the Chief Editor of the student Magazine " Mullerpulse" at Fr Muller Medical College.

In 2015, his website which is used to connect with communities through articles and columns was attacked by Pakistani Cyber Criminals.

He is appointed as Adjunct Faculty at the Department of Public Health, Yenepoya University.

Non-Resident Senior Fellow with the Atlantic Council.

US Department of State Legislative Fellow & Alumnus.

While being a house surgeon doing MBBS, he supported relief efforts by working as a humanitarian physician during Typhoon Haiyaan in the Philippines.

He called for a ban on doctor’s white coat in India to prevent hospital acquired infections through his work in the British Medical Journal.

In case of heart attacks, he advised people in India and around the world to keep 300 mg aspirin in their pockets at all times and to take the pill when they develop severe chest pain.

He spoke elaboratively pertaining to the mental health budget and the need to create resilience in India given the silent burden of the disease, highlighting the need for mental health financing.

He advocated to regulate the work hours of resident doctors and house surgeons in India to prevent medical error and preventable deaths to patients and create a safe hospital environment through his work in the Economic and Political Weekly.

To plug the shortage of doctors in India, he advised the Union Health Secretary to Government of India to remove the mandatory retirement age for doctors as it served no meaningful purpose.

Dr. Fernandes was instrumental to bring seat belt compulsorily implemented for 4 wheeler drivers in the city of Mangalore in the year 2015, after a long advocacy with the Police and District Administration.

BW Business World 40 under 40.

In 2017, he was invited to address the United Nations Regional Hub in Bangkok on how south-south co-operation at the ASEAN level can create a new world order in strengthening International development and achieving disaster resilience and meaningfully bringing climate change adaptation practices.

The US Government invited him for a high-level deliberation on public health and climate crisis in the Indo-Pacific Region.

He has also stated that rising temperatures reduce the efficiency levels of humans and increases cardiac risks and heat stress.

He pointed out that bursting of firecrackers is one of the leading causes of air pollution and noise pollution leading to climate change crisis.

Dr. Fernandes demonstrated proof of concept to End Malnutrition in India through a pilot project in Yelburga Taluk of Karnataka.

He co-founded Mission ICU, a citizen driven programme along with other two friends which has supported over 20 District Hospitals of India with over 200 ICU Beds and ventilators, thereby building enhanced surge capacity in government hospitals where lakhs of people benefit.

Dr. Edmond Fernandes wrote to the Chief Justice of Karnataka High Court and to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to ensure a full ban on firecrackers in the state with silent hours to mark the state commitment to climate justice.