Canadian Network for International Surgery (CNIS)

CNIS is a non-profit organization headquartered in Vancouver, BC, founded in August 1995, promoting the delivery of essential surgical care to underprivileged people in low-income countries. Their vision is to empower these countries to create environments where the risk from injuries is minimal and healthcare access is adequate; their mission centers on improving maternal health, increasing safety, and building local surgical capacity.

Core programs include Essential Surgical Skills (ESS) workshops, five-day trainings teaching basic surgical interventions to non-surgeon clinicians, and Basic Surgical Skills (BSS) courses, two-day trainings covering procedures like lymph node biopsy and tendon repair. They also run injury-prevention initiatives, support African medical libraries through information exchange, and engage the public by recruiting Canadian medical professionals and raising awareness of surgical access needs globally.

Geographically, CNIS operates across multiple countries including South Sudan, Uganda, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Guyana, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, and Rwanda, with a notable 2005 initiative establishing surgical learning centers at six Ethiopian universities.