Objective
To promote Canadian involvement in international surgery, while raising awareness of the critical issues of global injury and maternal mortality.
Facts
- 13% of Africans die as a result of injury
- 1 in 13 African woman will die due to childbirth complications, compared to 1 in 11,000 Canadian women
- Nearly 50% of the 600,000 deaths related to pregnancy complications occur in Africa
- Access to high-speed internet and electronic libraries and databases in Africa is limited
How We Work
CNIS has partnerships with eight African departments of surgery and obstetrics and works with regional injury prevention networks. We also have formal links with eight Canadian university departments of surgery, as well as the Canadian Association of General Surgeons and the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada .
Our Impact
CNIS offers a range of courses in Canada, including international development for health professionals, Swahili language classes for the public and the Salama Virtual Bike Safari, teaching Canadian schoolchildren about geography, ecology and conflict resolution. Through quarterly newsletters, the CNIS website, public forums, mass media and health journals, CNIS aims to raise awareness of the need for International Surgery.
Current Challenges
- Looking for volunteers who want to use their talents in editing, translation, research, internet technology, graphics and event coordination
- Seeking financial resources to produce a video showcasing our teaching initiatives
- Striving to develop new course material
