Non-Country Specific
In addition to assisting projects on a regional basis, ASHA provides assistance to Private and Non-Governmental Organizations that administer programs worldwide. They include organizations that transport services to remote areas of the world where such services are either unavailable or in very limited supply. To date, ASHA has awarded approximately $78 million in assistance to various institutions in this category. These programs include providing training in health education and medical services to indigenous populations of remote areas of the world. Project HOPE and Mercy Ships are two organizations that have successfully utilized ASHA funds to meet the growing health care needs of the developing world.
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Project Hope in Mozambique, Africa |
Based in the United States, Project HOPE, whose mission is "Health Opportunities for People Everywhere" alleviates suffering, saves lives, and helps communities attain lasting improvements in healthcare. The program provides training in medical education and policy research globally. It helps people around the world to live longer and healthier lives. With assistance from ASHA, Project HOPE provides training in health and medical services to about thirty countries annually. It reaches more than one million people worldwide and operates medical education and policy research programs in seventy countries within five continents including North America.
Mercy Ships is a global charity that has operated hospital ships in developing nations since 1978. Mercy Ships brings hope and healing to the forgotten poor by mobilizing people and resources worldwide, and serving all people without regard for race, gender, or religion.
The Africa Mercy is a seagoing vessel that contains six operating rooms and over 450 volunteer crew at any one time. This floating hospital has brought hope and healing to countries in West Africa: war-torn Liberia, Benin and currently Togo. It provides a platform for immediate medical relief and serves as a health care training facility. The ship also provides a safe working and living environment that allows highly qualified volunteers to fully maximize their skills for the benefit of the poor and for those who come for training. The Africa Mercy provides an immediate impact in the form of free surgeries – dental, eye, orthopedic, cleft palate repair, and tumor removal. But the training provided by Mercy Ships creates a continuing impact long after the ship has left port. This training includes surgical training for African physicians, health education, mental health training for health care workers and community leaders, and community development training in sustainable, organic agriculture.
The successes of organizations like Project HOPE and the Mercy Ships demonstrate advances of American education and medical technology worldwide. This fosters a favorable image of the United States overseas as well as increases mutual understanding between Americans and other nations. The works of these organizations have raised the quality of life for millions of people and promoted democracy, peace and prosperity around the world.
A list of institutions is located at ASHA Assisted Institutions
Contact Person:
Ms. Mary Herbert, Agreement Officer’s Representative (AOR),
American Schools & Hospitals Abroad (ASHA), Bureau of Democracy, Conflict
and Humanitarian Assistance, USAID E-Mail: mherbert@usaid.gov
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