About CHD Group India

Our History

CHD Group was founded in 2014 by Dr. Edmond Fernandes, a Community Health Physician. He started the organization based on his calling to leave the world better than how he found it. The originating name was Center for Health and Development ( CHD) however, in the years since, it has come to be popularly known across the country and around the world as CHD Group. CHD Group started with one man’s vision; today it has become sort of an infectious movement pulling together people from across ranks and files, those with heart in humanity and mind in development. It is among the rare global institutions to have its Headquarters in a non-metro city based in Mangalore, Karnataka in India but serving humanity across countries. The spirit that propels this work forward is the mission to create a world where the young and the young at heart will receive accessible and affordable healthcare in our lifetime. Sustainable Development Goals means nothing to the last mile person on the ground. That is where CHD Group shadows and delivers, decides and champions their cause, making it our own. With new innovative models of service and strategic intelligence, CHD Group collaborates with visionary companies, Governments and civil society to realize the dream of a billion beats planet.

Our Vision

To build an inclusive and progressive world for our billion beats

Our Mission

To serve the world we live in by making it favourable, honourable, healthy, sustainable and vibrant, so that generations which come after us will be grateful because we took the time to care.

* CHD Group invites corporate companies, academic partners and professionals with a social mind to collaborate with us, today !

* CHD Group is India’s leading public health organization driving field interventions, advocacy and engaging in global health diplomacy at the highest levels of governance.

Governing Board

Dr. Edmond Fernandes

MBBS, MD, PGD-PHSM

Dr. Edmond Fernandes is a preventive & family health physician and Founder of CHD Group – a global health organization holding UNECOSOC Special Consultative Status and Observership with UNFCCC.

He is also Director at the Edward & Cynthia Institute of Public Health – affiliated to Mangalore University. Dr. Edmond has written 3 books, has over 20 research publications, written over 200 articles in the national and global media and has impacted over 2 million lives.

He was awarded and nominated as a Professional Fellow of the US Department of State and was a Visiting Scholar to Dornsife School of Public Health at Drexel University. He was also awarded the Business World 40 under 40 Award. Due to the work he has championed at CHD Group, he has had the privilege to address the UNDP Headquarters at the United Nations in New York, along with Noble Laureate Prof. Muhammad Yunus at the UN University in Tokyo and the UN Regional Hub at Bangkok. He travels around the world delivering key-note addresses and as a resource person on different public health & development agendas. He is invited regularly by the United Nation offices and Government of India Institutes for deliberations, guidance and discussions on health, development and public policy. He continues to influence global health agendas across the Asia Pacific Region.

He also serves in additional capacity as a Non Resident Senior Fellow of the Atlantic Council, Washington DC and as a Consultant to the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, Bangkok. Dr. Edmond also works and mentors many MNCs and Corporations around the world on development planning and business development integration.

Dr. Neevan Dsouza

Dr. Neevan Dsouza, holds a doctorate in Biostatistics and is currently Associate Professor at Nitte ( Deemed to be university). She has 29 research publications in Public Health & Statistics. She is invited as an external examiner for university examinations around South India.

Nikesh Bhargava

Professor Nikesh Bhargava, is a professional microbiologist with focus on general biology and worked on HIV & Skin Infections research at KEM Hospital and in polio vaccine research at Haffkine Institute.

Cynthia Fernandes

Ms. Cynthia is a commerce professional and Founder Trustee at CHD Group holding wide experience in Accounting and Data management. She worked with Sachdeva Entreprises & Crompton Greaves Limited previously. She is currently Advisor to ICICI Prulife Insurance Company and Chief Finance Officer at CHD Group.

Prashant Mannagudda

Prashant is a management professional holding an M.Phil in Social Anthropology and Gestalt Psychology, MBA in Operations and HR and M.Th. He has worked with several MNCs and was also Managing Director of Tata Group of Companies.

About Us