SIGVARIS Partners with Medshare International To Combat Vein Disease In Developing Countries

Oct. 9, 2008 - PRLog -- Peachtree City, GA -- SIGVARIS North America has announced a charitable initiative in which the global medical device manufacturer will be donating compression therapy garments for distribution by Medshare International to assist in the treatment of vein disease, varicose veins, venous ulcers, deep vein thrombosis and other venous conditions in developing countries around the world. The donated products are discontinued styles, but they are unworn, in medical packaging and are perfectly useable.

Each year, thousands of patients in the developing world cannot receive medical aid because no resources exist.  Medshare International bridges the gap between surplus and need in order to improve healthcare and the environment through the efficient recovery and redistribution of unused medical supplies and equipment to those most in need.

MedShare collects surplus medical supplies from hospitals, corporations and individuals throughout the United States.  At their distribution centers in Georgia and California, the products are sorted, quality-controlled, and entered into MedShare’s online inventory system.  Qualified, approved healthcare institutions in the economically developing world can order the exact items they need, box by box.  Shipments are made in the form of 40-foot containers which hold approximately 800-1,000 boxes of humanitarian aid.

“We are honored to support Medshare’s relief efforts worldwide by donating support hose and related compression products, as SIGVARIS believes strongly in the therapeutic and economic value of compression therapy garments in the treatment of venous disease,” said Lisa Wells, North American Product Manager.

SIGVARIS contributes to Medshare and numerous medical associations that advance the knowledge and treatment of venous disease worldwide as part of our commitment to improving the quality of life for people suffering from vein health issues.

About Medshare International
MedShare International, an Atlanta-based 501(c)3 non-profit organization, recovers surplus medical supplies and equipment in the United States and redistributes it to underserved healthcare institutions around the world. Since its inception in 1999, MedShare has shipped forty-foot containers of humanitarian aid to 72 countries while saving over one million cubic feet of space in U.S. landfills. MedShare was recently awarded the 2008 Revolutions Award for Outstanding Nonprofit Organization from the Georgia Center for Nonprofits.

About SIGVARIS
SIGVARIS® North America is part of an internationally active medical device group headquartered in Winterthur, Switzerland that focuses on the development, production and distribution of medical compression garments, including hosiery and socks. With distribution in more than 50 countries on six continents, SIGVARIS is recognized as a global industry leader in the area of compression therapy for the management of venous and lymphatic disorders. For more information, please visit www.sigvarisusa.com. SIGVARIS, LIFE FOR LEGS and the leg icon are registered trademarks of Ganzoni & Cie AG, St.Gallen/Switzerland and in many countries worldwide.

For more information, please contact:

Lisa Wells
SIGVARIS Marketing, North America
Email: lisa.wells@sigvaris.com
Phone: 770- 632-2962

Karen Gordon
Medshare International
Email: kgordon@medshare.org
Phone: 770-323-5858

Keywords: SIGVARIS, MedShare International, compression therapy, global health initiatives, medical device manufacturing, non-profit health organization, surplus medical supplies, vein disease, venous disease, deep vein thrombosis, venous ulcers, support hose

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SIGVARIS® develops medical compression hosiery and socks, and is a global leader in compression therapy products that treat venous and lymphatic disorders like varicose veins, chronic vein insufficiency and deep vein thrombosis. www.sigvarisusa.com