Objective

Facts

• UN review of Millennium Development Goals concluded that the lack of health care infrastructure and human resource capacity are the major barriers to reaching health targets
• African medical students and practitioners lack  access to up-to-date instructional books, journals and supplies
• Access to high-speed Internet and electronic libraries and databases is limited

How We Work

Through the African Information Initiatives, CNIS makes knowledge accessible to our partners via libraries and interactive sites, travel support, technical assistance and online journals.

Our Impact

CNIS has sent containers of new surgical books to Ethiopia (2006) and Tanzania (2008) and Uganda (2010). Translation of course manuals into French, Portuguese, Swahili and Arabic is currently underway to facilitate greater knowledge exchange. Through interactive websites such as the Primary Surgery Wiki and the African Injury DataBase, CNIS provides and collects surgical, obstetrical and injury information in collaboration with its African partners. Electronic Library Project hardware and Internet connections are being obtained for surgical skills labs and Injury Control Centres. CNIS also contributes by editing and reviewing African dimensions of international journals and offering a travel support program in partnership with UBC’s Branch for International Surgery to Canadian surgery residents who are researching relevant clinical and injury projects.

Current Challenges

• Finding funds to ship a donation of new surgical textbooks
• Insure Internet connections and supply computer equipment at various teaching centres