"Project Hope and the partnership with the Navy has very real effects," said Dr. John Howe III, President of Project Hope, an international health care organization that's based right here in Frederick County.

"Patients are better throughout the world, but very importantly, perceptions of Americans change as the doctors and nurses reach out to those who are suffering from an illness, on one hand patients are better. On the other, views of Americans are better."

"In Ghana, we had nurses come on board the ship, The Swift, and we trained them in midwifery. Why is that important? Because of the high infant mortality rate in newborns is real and we can make a difference."

Several volunteers recently set sail with the US Navy on a trip to West Africa.

They will provide health care education to health care professionals in Ghana, Liberia, and Nigeria, focusing on maternal and children's health.

"In the past two weeks, we've taken care of over 400 patients, and provided 1.2 million dollars in medical supplies to the Ministry of Health in Ghana."

While they are there, they will also spend approximately 10 days at the JFK Hospital in Liberia to mentor physicians and nurses.

This is actually Project Hope's 50th Anniversary.

You can keep up with what the volunteers are doing oversees by reading their blogs, at www.ProjectHope.org.

The organization will also be sending out volunteers on trips to Central and South America, and Southeast Asia later this year.