Objective
CNIS is a true Canadian initiative, founded in Canada. Our office is in Vancouver, BC. We welcome you to come by and visit us!
Through the Public Engagement in Canada Program, CNIS offers surgical instructor courses, hosts public events and fundraisers, participates in medical forums and conferences and informs Canadians about the importance of international surgery. Find out more: Upcoming Courses and Events.
How We Work
CNIS has formal partnerships with ten Canadian university departments of surgery, as well as the Canadian Association of General Surgeons and the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada. Each of our Canadian partners works closely with one of our African partners. Our ability to maintain and expand our teaching programs in low-income regions depends on our public engagement work in Canada and the support we receive from Canadian foundations, corporations and individual donors.
- CNIS offers public engagement courses in Canada, including The Place of Surgery in International Development, which addresses the issue of international development for health professionals.
- CNIS hosts public events, such as the African Market, and donor and volunteer appreciation events.
- Our Swahili language classes are open to the general public and are held twice a year.
- Through the Canada/Ethiopia Twinning Project, CNIS involves Canadian elementary school students in a global classroom.
- CNIS holds an annual gala event. From A Night on the Savannah, to A Night in Magical Timbuktu, these events raise vital funds for our life-saving work.
- Through our quarterly newsletters, website, public forums, facebook, twitter, media releases and contribution of articles in health journals, CNIS aims to raise public awareness of the importance of teaching g as a sustainable way of building capacity in low-income regions.
Current Challenges
- Securing financial support to bring our life-saving obstetrics program to new areas and countries.
- Seeking financial resources to produce a video showcasing our teaching initiatives.
- Developing course material in French.
- Raise funds to establish our first Injury Control Centre in West Africa, to be located in Bamako, Mali.
