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Rwanda Hospital Updates Laundry Equipment

FALL RIVER, Mass. — Kibagabaga District Hospital in Kigali, Rwanda, recently received a new industrial dryer supplied by American Dryer Corp. (ADC). The ADE 758 dryer was shipped from here to Kenya and imported to Rwanda. The 200-bed healthcare facility hopes the new dryer will help reduce infection.

The International Organization for Women and Development (IOWD) purchased the dryer through an ADC distributor in the Middle East, according to Mike Davidson, chief financial officer of ADC.

The group of IOWD volunteer doctors and nurses travel to Rwanda to care for women suffering from fistulas, an abnormal connection between organs that occurs after an obstructed labor without medical assistance.

Before the availability of the dryer, medical staff would line-dry clean linens, exposing them to contaminated areas with ants and bird feces. These elements led to high infection rates in the facility.

“We were finding mold on operating room articles,” says Barbara A. Margolies, executive director of IOWD. “Having a proper working laundry is essential for any functioning hospital. Now, with this dryer, we can dramatically reduce the infection rate, an absolute necessity.”

To help with ongoing care of the dryer, ADC donated a box of spare parts, manuals and schematics.

“This is a very big deal for the staff,” says Margolies. “They’ve never had American-quality machines before. They feel very special to have this machine.”

“It’s quite a trip for a dryer made in Fall River, Mass., although it’s indicative of ADC’s global reach and reputation,” says Chris FitzGerald, CEO of ADC.

“We’re pleased to see one of our units put to such important use, and we look forward to having our equipment and customer service team support IOWD and the Kibagabaga District Hospital for many years to come.”

rwanda hospital employees web

Employees of the Kibagabaga District Hospital (from left): Mr. Schadrack, laundry staff; Madame Getilide in charge of laundry; and Jules Bideri, head of maintenance. (Photo: American Dryer Corp.)

Have a question or comment? E-mail our editor Matt Poe at [email protected].