ADC Helps Stop Hospital Infections in Rwanda
- ADC News
- July 03, 2014
- 0 Comments
Fall River, MA – June 30, 2014.
American Dryer Corp. (ADC) recently supplied an industrial dryer to Kibagabaga District Hospital in Kigali, Rwanda through the International Organization for Women and Development (IOWD).
IOWD doctors and nurses – all volunteers – travel to Rwanda to help women who suffer from fistulas after experiencing a prolonged and obstructed labor without medical assistance.
Kibagabaga hospital has about 200
beds and is responsible for 16 health centers in the surrounding
district. Previously, laundry was trucked to other hospitals, which was costly and ineffective, leading to a shortage of bed linens, surgical gowns, and surgical drapes. Operating room staff would dry the linens in the open air in the grass, exposing them to ants and bird droppings, which led to high infection rates.
“It was a nightmare! We were finding mold on operating room articles,” said Barbara A. Margolies, IOWD Executive Director. “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.”

Hospital employees (left to right): Mr. Schadrack, laundry staff; Madame Getilide in charge of laundry; and Jules Bideri, head of maintenance.
The dryer ADC supplied, model ADE 758, is a high capacity machine designed for heavy use. It was shipped to Kenya, trucked and imported into Rwanda, then installed. Seeing how excited hospital laundry and maintenance staffs were about their
new machine and their concern about properly taking care of it, ADC donated a box of common spare parts that might be needed. They also sent along manuals and schematics so the hospital staff can be self-sufficient and operate their dryer for a very
long time. “Your support is highly appreciated by the entire hospital staff,” said Dr. Sebatunzi Osee, Director of Kibagabaga Hospital, “God bless you.”
“This is a very big deal for the staff,” Margolies said. “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, Massachusetts, although it’s indicative of ADC’s global reach and reputation” said Chris FitzGerald, ADC’s CEO. “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.”
About American Dryer Corporation
American Dryer Corporation (ADC) is a brand trusted by commercial and industrial laundry distributors and facilities worldwide for innovative, engineering-driven equipment designs that improve efficiency and performance, extend product life, and enhance serviceability. Since its founding in 1965, the company has become one of the world’s leading manufacturers of commercial and industrial dryers, as well as a trusted supplier of specialty drying and heating equipment. Building on
our reputation for comprehensive solutions, ADC has recently expanded our product portfolio to include some of the most advanced commercial washer/extractors. Headquartered in Fall River, Massachusetts, ADC is proud of its heritage as an innovative designer and manufacturer of world-class products.