Canadian Network for International Surgery

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Canadian Network for International Surgery

Abbreviation	CNIS
Formation	1995
Type	Non-Profit NGO
Purpose/focus	Promotes the delivery of essential surgical care to the underprivileged.
Headquarters	Vancouver, BC, Canada
Membership	Individuals
Official languages	English, French, Other
President and International Director	Dr. Ronald Lett
Website	CNIS

The Canadian Network for International Surgery (CNIS) is a non-profit organization that promotes the delivery of essential surgical care to the underprivileged. Their vision is to empower low-income countries to create an environment where the risk of injuries is minimal and all people receive adequate surgical care.

The CNIS was federally incorporated in August of 1995 and is managed by a nine-member board of directors with representation from all over Canada. It has a nationwide membership of physicians, surgeons, and other concerned citizens who share a commitment to improving the health of people in low-income countries.

The CNIS office is located in Vancouver, British Columbia.

1 Activities
2 Collaborating Countries
3 Program Support Unit (PSU)
4 Innovation Project
5 See also
6 References and External Links

[edit] Activities

CNIS 4-prong approach to aid:

ESS Courses
Injury Prevention
Surgical Information
Public Engagement

[edit] ESS Courses

Delivery of Essential Surgical Skills 5-day workshops where students are taught basic surgical interventions and 40 life saving skills.

[edit] Injury Prevention

As a surgical organization, the CNIS wants to improve access to surgical care but also aims to reduce the need for surgery. Injury leads to premature death and disability in all countries. However, in low-income countries the toll is particularly high.

CNIS promotes and works on establishing injury control centers with local governments.

[edit] Surgical Information

CNIS promotes the sharing of knowledge between African and Canadian partner organizations and institutions through a Surgical Information Program. As a 'learning organization', CNIS wishes to increase the knowledge and skill base of our African partners with information. CNIS supports medical school and hospital libraries in Africa by sending new or recent surgical/medical books and journals. CNIS funds two African and one Canadian student's research scholarship at the Injury Control Centre - Uganda (ICC-U). With the help of the Canadian Journal of Surgery, CNIS provides editorial support to the Association of Surgeons of East and Central Africa Journal of Surgery.

[edit] Public Engagement

Since its incorporation, the CNIS has been active across Canada through its Public Engagement Program. The objective of the program is to raise the awareness of Canadians of the importance of health in development, promote the need for access to safe surgical and obstetrical care in Africa, and promote the active particiaption of Canadian surgical professionals in international surgery projects. Activities that take place within the Public Engagement Program include workshops and seminars, quarterly newsletters and cultural events.

[edit] Collaborating Countries

"The CNIS works to empower low-income countries to create an environment where the risk from injuries is minimal and all people receive adequate surgical care."

With the collaboration of African and Canadian surgeons, the CNIS has implemented various programs and courses throughout Africa in:

*Ethiopia

[Surgical Skills Training](http://www.cnis.ca/)

Addis Ababa
Jimma
Gondor
Mekele
Hawassa

[Obstetrical Training](http://www.cnis.ca/0

Addis Ababa

*Malawi

[Surgical Skills Training](http://www.cnis.ca/)

Blantyre
Lilongwe

*Mali

[Surgical Skills Training](http://www.cnis.ca/)

Bamako

*Mozambique

[Surgical Skills Training](http://www.cnis.ca/)

Maputo

*Rwanda

[Surgical Skills Training] (http://www.cnis.ca/)

Butare

*Tanzania

[Surgical Skills Training](http://www.cnis.ca/)

Dar es Salaam
Moshe

[Injury Control](http://www.cnis.ca/)

Dar es Salaam

*Uganda

[Surgical Skills Training](http://www.cnis.ca/)

Mbarara
Gulu

[Obstetrical Training](http://www.cnis.ca/)

Kampala

[Injury Control](http://www.cnis.ca/)(http://www.iccu.or.ug/)

Kampala

[edit] Program Support Unit (PSU)

This is the first office of CNIS in Africa. Located in the Black Lion Hospital at Addis Ababa University Surgical Skills Lab, Ethiopia. The Program Support Unit (PSU) is actively involved in CNIS activities in Africa. The PSU is staffed by President and International Director of CNIS, Dr Ronald Lett (http://www.cnis.ca/whoweare_staff.php), Administrative Assistant of PSU, Semhal L. Kidane.

[edit] Innovation Project

CNIS launched a new innovation project to establish surgical learning centers at six Universities in Ethiopia. The universities in this project will have learning centers that are dedicated for surgical and obstetrical care at the end of the project. The project also will have an institutional capacity building component where surgical department staff will attend workshops in management, leadership and fund raising skills. The project builds on results of previous efforts, which are intended to promote long term capacity building in obstetrical and surgical operations and care. The learning centers will enable universities to train and certify primary care physicians, surgeons, instructors, and other health professionals as well as build up their institutional capacity (fund raising, creating linkage) They will provide growing support for hospitals, health centers, and clinics across Ethiopia to address the critical health needs of the population.

The Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) granted $200,000 for the project.

The Toronto Chapter of the Ethiopian North American Health Professionals Association (ENAHPA) matches the CIDA fund for this project based on an MOU of mutual support signed in May. ENAHPA will provide $100,000 for the project. The CNIS agreed to provide obstetrical and essential skills training to assist ENAHPA's safe motherhood project in Awassa.