AlloSource And Mercy Ships Partner To Change Lives In Madagascar

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Sep 30, 2015, 01:54 ET

CENTENNIAL, Colo., Sept. 30, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- AlloSource, one of the nation's largest providers of cartilage, cellular, bone, skin and soft-tissue allografts for use in surgical procedures and wound care to advance patient healing, donated tissue allografts to Mercy Ships, a nonprofit organization using hospital ships to deliver free, world-class healthcare services to those without access in the developing world, to help save and improve lives through medical procedures.

The Africa Mercy, a private hospital ship operated by Mercy Ships.

Doctors onboard the world's largest private hospital ship, the Africa Mercy, owned and operated by Mercy Ships, performed maxillofacial surgeries using bone allografts donated by AlloSource to change the lives of patients with tumors and other facial conditions. Mercy Ships will continue to use grafts from AlloSource during its current service in Madagascar.

"Through the incredible work of Mercy Ships, the gift of human tissue donation is able to help change lives across the world," said Thomas Cycyota, AlloSource president and CEO. "We are proud to support this organization's efforts to provide free surgeries to patients and honor donors by continuing their legacy of generosity."

The Africa Mercy docked in Toamasina in the Republic of Madagascar from October 2014 through June 2015 and performed 1,269 surgeries. Healthcare providers with Mercy Ships also treated 5,141 dental patients and offered courses to over 400 medical care professionals.

"Here in Madagascar, onboard the hospital ship Africa Mercy (and also in all other African nations in which we serve), we treat many people with late-stage tumors of the midface, cranium and mandible. The large size and extent of tumors like this are rarely seen in high-income countries, but are the norm here in Africa," commented chief medical officer of Mercy Ships, Dr. Gary Parker. "Successful surgical treatment usually involves resection of extensive areas of bone. I have found AlloFuse® Plus extremely helpful in our reconstructive efforts. The reverse phase medium works well in helping the demineralized bone matrix and cancellous bone particles adhere to bone grafts and defects. AlloFuse Plus is well-tolerated and helps promote graft healing. I am very grateful for the kind generosity of the AlloSource team in providing us with AlloFuse materials. AlloSource is benefiting some of the poorest people on Earth."

Africa Mercy returned to Madagascar this month and will stay through June of 2016. On this trip, Mercy Ships plans to provide over 2,000 surgeries for adult and child patients aboard the Africa Mercy, treatment to over 10,000 patients at a land-based dental clinic, healthcare training and mentoring to Malagasy healthcare professionals and agricultural training to those who train community farmers.

About AlloSource
AlloSource is one of the largest nonprofit cellular and tissue networks in the country, offering more than 200 types of precise cartilage, cellular, bone, skin and soft-tissue allografts to advance patient healing. For more than 20 years, AlloSource's products have bridged the proven science of allografts with the advanced technology of cells, offering life-saving and life-enhancing possibilities in spine, sports medicine, foot and ankle, orthopedic, reconstructive, trauma and wound care procedures. As the world's largest processor of cellular bone allografts, fresh cartilage tissue for joint repair and skin allografts to help heal severe burns, AlloSource delivers unparalleled expertise and service to its growing network of surgeons, partners, and the country's most reputable organ procurement organizations. The company is accredited by the American Association of Tissue Banks and is headquartered in Centennial, CO. For more information, please visit allosource.org or our educational website, allograftpossibilities.org.

About Mercy Ships
Mercy Ships uses hospital ships to deliver free, world-class health care services, capacity building and sustainable development to those without access in the developing world. Founded in 1978 by Don and Deyon Stephens, Mercy Ships has worked in more than 70 countries providing services valued at more than $1 billion, treating more than 2.5 million direct beneficiaries. Each year Mercy Ships has more than 1,600 volunteers from more than 40 nations. Professionals including surgeons, dentists, nurses, health care trainers, teachers, cooks, seamen, engineers, and agriculturalists donate their time and skills to the effort. Mercy Ships seeks to transform individuals and serve nations one at a time. For more information click on www.mercyships.org. Hi-res photos and general Mercy Ships B-Roll video footage are available upon request.

Media Contacts:
AlloSource
Megan Duggan
720. 382. 2766
[email protected]

Mercy Ships
For USA: Pauline Rick
US Public Relations Coordinator
Office: 903. 939. 7000
Cell: 972. 922. 5442
[email protected]
For International: Diane Rickard
[email protected]

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150930/272491

SOURCE AlloSource