Unique/Special Assistance Worldwide
 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 $75 million in assistance to various institutions in this category, of which, no new grant was awarded in FY 2003. These programs include providing training in health education and medical services to indigenous populations of remote areas of the world. Project HOPE and Project ORBIS are two organizations that have successfully utilized ASHA funds to meet the growing health care needs of the developing world.
 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.
 ORBIS is a worldwide, non-profit humanitarian organization dedicated to eradicating avoidable blindness through training, public education and improved access to quality ophthalmic services. It provides continuing medical education for medical professionals through its DC-10 hospital facility programs, local hospital-based programs in ophthalmic specialties, and fellowship training opportunities at North American and European institutions. Since 1982, some 400 ORBIS training programs in 80 countries have enhanced the skills of more that 48,000 health professionals and directly restored the sight of about 23,000 patients during training demonstrations. An estimated nine million people can see better today as a result of the ORBIS program.
The successes of organizations like Project HOPE and ORBIS 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
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