En el marco del acuerdo establecido entre ambas instituciones, Nicaragua Sugar, propietaria del Ingenio San Antonio, entregó a la UNAN León un vehículo para el funcionamiento de la clínica dental, que además brindará atención a comunidades de Occidente.

Ezequiel Ramírez, vicepresidente de ASOCHIVIDA, manifestó que dicha actividad de salud es de gran valor para esta organización que aglutina a unas dos mil personas.

El doctor Humberto Altamirano, Decano de la Facultad de Odontología, explicó que las jornadas dentales con ASOCHIVIDA tendrán los componentes de promoción y educación en salud dental, además de una valoración caso por caso de cada paciente para una atención especializada considerando la enfermedad que padecen.

Altamirano exhortó a los miembros de ASOCHIVIDA a asistir a estas jornadas ya que los estreptococos que producen las caries dentales pueden deteriorar los riñones de cualquier persona sana o agravar el estado de salud de los enfermos renales.

El doctor Denis Chavarría, coordinador de Salud Ocupacional del Ingenio San Antonio, manifestó que existe total disposición de parte de la empresa a continuar asistiendo de manera integral a ASOCHIVIDA.

Desde 2009, como resultado del diálogo existente entre ASOCHIVIDA y Nicaragua Sugar, los integrantes de esta agrupación se han beneficiado con más de dos millones de dólares en apoyos diversos como ayuda alimentaria, atención médica en el Hospital del Ingenio San Antonio, donaciones de mochilas y útiles escolares a sus hijos y nietos, entre otros.

Asimismo, se han comenzado a implementar proyectos de autosostenibilidad que les van a permitir tener un sustento para ellos y sus familias de manera digna y acorde con sus condiciones de salud y se contrataron los servicios de la prestigiosa Universidad de Boston, que viene realizando una exhaustiva investigación para determinar si existen causalidades específicas en la zona del occidente de Nicaragua para la Insuficiencia Renal Crónica (IRC).

]]> http://boicotgrupopellas.wordpress.com/2011/10/17/enfermos-de-insuficiencia-renal-cronica-beneficiados-por-nicaragua-sugar/feed/ 0 GP2009 http://boicotgrupopellas.wordpress.com/2011/03/20/la-colaboracion-nicaragua-sugar-%e2%80%93-asochivida-un-desmentis-a-la-campana-de-boicot-a-flor-de-cana/ http://boicotgrupopellas.wordpress.com/2011/03/20/la-colaboracion-nicaragua-sugar-%e2%80%93-asochivida-un-desmentis-a-la-campana-de-boicot-a-flor-de-cana/#comments Sun, 20 Mar 2011 03:33:45 +0000 Jeronimo http://boicotgrupopellas.wordpress.com/?p=263 ]]> El respaldo a Asochivida, la asociación de enfermos de Insuficiencia Renal Crónica (IRC) más representativa de Nicaragua, fue en 2010 para Nicaragua Sugar el rubro de inversión más importante de sus compromisos de Responsabilidad Social en apoyo a la comunidad.

El Hospital del Ingenio San Antonio proporcionó casi 200 mil dólares en concepto de atenciones a pacientes con IRC y en donaciones al Centro de Salud de Chichigalpa.

La ayuda alimenticia para los miembros de Asochivida ascendió a cerca de 480 mil dólares. De enero a diciembre de 2010 se hizo entrega de 21,603 boletas de granos básicos que incluyeron 118,836 Kg. de maíz, 99,030 Kg. de arroz, 99,030 Kg. de frijoles, además de 39,612 Bl de sal, 178,254 Kg. de azúcar, 39,612 litros de aceite y 99,030 piezas de jabón.        

Para el inicio del año escolar se hizo entrega de útiles escolares a familiares de los miembros de Asochivida que consistió en 7,124 cuadernos, 1,718 lapiceros, 3,562 lápices y 1,781 mochilas y  se destinaron US$100,000 para proyectos económicos de autosostenibilidad.

El monto total de la ayuda a Asochivida en 2010 fue de casi 800 mil dólares.

Actualmente, un equipo de investigadores interdepartamentales de la Escuela de Salud Pública de la Universidad de Boston (BUSPH) está llevando el caso, en busca de respuestas.

“La enfermedad ha sido, en esencia, una sentencia de muerte para quienes la padecen”, dice Daniel Brooks, investigador de BUSPH y profesor asociado de epidemiología, quien lidera el grupo. “No solemos ver epidemias de salud pública en las que realmente no tenemos idea de cuál es la causa. En este caso, esa es la situación”.

Desde 2009, Brooks ha dirigido a un equipo de investigación de la UB para indagar por qué los residentes de dos regiones del noroeste de Nicaragua – Chinandega y León – contraen insuficiencia renal crónica con una tasa de más de 10 veces la de EE.UU. Bajo los auspicios de la Oficina del Asesor en Cumplimiento/Ombudsman (CAO) del Banco Mundial, el equipo ha desarrollado una estrategia para investigar las posibles razones de la epidemia y está realizando un estudio de amplio alcance para tratar de determinar las causas.

Los científicos están trabajando con algunas pistas que esperan los lleve a las respuestas. Estudios previos indican que las muertes son más comunes entre los hombres que en mujeres, y que la enfermedad afecta a personas jóvenes de tan sólo 20 ó 30 años de edad.

Entre aquellos con la enfermedad hay un gran número de ex trabajadores agrícolas de plantaciones de caña de azúcar propiedad del principal empleador de la zona, Nicaragua Sugar Estates Limited (NSEL). Un grupo de ex empleados de NSEL ha alegado que la empresa ha expuesto a los trabajadores a algo que está causando la epidemia – un reclamo que ha sido impugnado por la empresa. Los trabajadores formaron un grupo, ASOCHIVIDA, que presentó una denuncia en 2008 ante la CAO (el brazo privado del Banco Mundial, la IFC, otorgó en 2006 un préstamo de $55 millones para actividades de caña de azúcar).

En respuesta, la CAO reunió a estos trabajadores y a la dirección de la empresa de caña de azúcar para tratar de encontrar respuestas, y el equipo interdisciplinario de la UB fue contratado para desarrollar una estrategia para el estudio de las posibles causas.

Hasta la fecha, el equipo de BUSPH ha realizado estudios en todo: los procesos de trabajo utilizados en Nicaragua Sugar, los agroquímicos utilizados en los cultivos, tomando muestras de agua para la detección de contaminantes que se sabe son causantes de Insuficiencia Renal Crónica. Hasta ahora no se ha encontrado nada que pueda explicar el exceso de incidencia de Insuficiencia Renal Crónica.

El equipo de investigación y otras partes interesadas hablaron de sus desafíos y avances en un reciente foro que se llevó a cabo en el Boston University Medical Campus, titulado “Una epidemia de Insuficiencia Renal Crónica en Nicaragua:. BUSPH responde a una crisis de salud pública”. Entre los asistentes estaba Juan José Amador, un profesional de la salud de Nicaragua que trabaja en las comunidades afectadas; Amar Inamdar, representante de la CAO, que supervisa el conflicto entre la empresa nicaragüense de caña de azúcar y la organización de ex trabajadores, y Juan Dumas, un experto en manejo de conflictos que está mediando el proceso de diálogo complejo que es fundamental para el estudio de esta epidemia.

“Nicaragua Sugar Estates Limited puede actuar en concordancia con las prácticas de trabajo que nosotros consideramos que son correctas”, dijo Inamdar, especialista principal, ombudsman de la Oficina del Asesor en Cumplimiento/Ombudsman del Banco Mundial. “Pero, ¿te dice esto porqué o cómo la enfermedad renal se presenta en un buen 30 por ciento de la fuerza de trabajo? No”.

“La gente ha estado buscando una respuesta desde hace varios años y no la ha encontrado”, dice Brooks. “Han habido varias teorías: el calor, las enfermedades infecciosas, la exposición a tóxicos. Todavía sigue siendo un gran misterio”.

Además de Brooks, otros miembros del equipo de investigación incluyen: Ann Aschengrau, profesora de epidemiología; Michael McClean, profesor asociado de salud ambiental; Madeleine Scammell, profesora asistente de salud ambiental; Kate Applebaum, profesora asistente de epidemiología, Bruce Cohen, profesor asistente adjunto de epidemiología y director de investigación y epidemiología del Departamento de Salud Pública de Massachusetts, y James Kaufman, MD, especialista renal de la Escuela de Medicina de la UB. También trabaja con el equipo Daniel Weiner, nefrólogo de Tufts University School of Medicine, y Oriana Ramírez, especialista en medicina preventiva que estudia en la Universidad Autónoma de Madrid.

Si bien el objetivo principal de los investigadores es identificar las causas y poner fin a la epidemia, Brooks dice que el proceso de estudio en si mismo ha impulsado avances importantes, incluyendo una creciente confianza y colaboración entre las distintas partes interesadas.

“¿Cómo lograr que trabajen como un grupo para luchar contra la insuficiencia renal crónica?”, dice Dumas, experto en gestión de conflictos. “Creo que ese es nuestro reto principal. Se trata de que las personas cooperen”.

Por ahora, los investigadores planean seguir haciendo pruebas a los trabajadores de la caña de azúcar, entrevistar a los médicos locales y examinar otras posibles exposiciones ocupacionales y no ocupacionales.

Por su parte, Brooks, cuyas áreas regulares de investigación se centran en las enfermedades relacionadas con el tabaco y la epidemiología del cáncer, dice que confía en que las habilidades combinadas de epidemiólogos, profesionales en salud ambiental, especialistas en la enfermedad renal y estudiosos de la salud mundial conducirán finalmente a las respuestas.

“Este puede ser el trabajo más difícil, pero también el más significativo, que he realizado”, dice Brooks. “No es frecuente que tengamos la oportunidad de hacer un trabajo que podría tener un impacto tan profundo y directo en las vidas de las personas”.

Enviado por Lisa Chedekel y Elana Zak

http://sph.bu.edu/insider/index.php/Recent-News/whats-causing-kidney-disease-in-nicaragua-busph-researchers-investigate.html

Now, an interdepartmental team of Boston University School of Public Health [BUSPH] researchers is on the case, sifting for answers.

“The disease has, essentially, been a death sentence once you get it,” said BUSPH researcher Daniel Brooks, an associate professor of epidemiology who leads the group. “We don’t often have public health epidemics [where] we really have no idea what the cause is. In this case, that is the situation.”

Since 2009, Brooks has led a research team from BU to probe why residents of two regions of northwestern Nicaragua — Chinandega and Leon — are contracting chronic kidney disease at a rate more than 10 times that in the U.S. Under the auspices of the World Bank’s Office of the Compliance Advisor/Ombudsman (CAO), the team has developed a strategy to probe possible reasons for the epidemic and is conducting a wide-ranging study to try to pinpoint causes.

The scientists are working with a few clues that they hope may lead them to answers. Previous studies indicate that deaths are more common among men than women, and that the disease is striking people as young as 20 or 30 years old.

Among those with the disease are a large number of former agricultural workers at a sugar cane plantation owned by the largest employer in the area, Nicaragua Sugar Estates Limited (NSEL). A group of former NSEL employees have alleged that the company was exposing workers to something that was causing the epidemic — a claim disputed by the company. The workers formed a group, ASOCHIVIDA, which lodged a complaint in 2008 with the CAO (the World Bank’s private sector arm, IFC, provided a $55 million loan to the sugarcane operation in 2006).

In response, the CAO brought together workers and sugarcane company management to try to find answers, with the BU interdisciplinary team retained to develop a strategy for studying possible causes.

To date, the BUSPH team has done studies on everything from the work processes used at NSEL, to the agrichemicals used on crops, to screening water samples for contaminants known to cause chronic kidney disease.  Nothing, so far, has been shown to explain the excess occurrence of chronic kidney disease.

The research team and other stakeholders spoke of their challenges and progress at a recent forum at Boston University Medical Campus, headlined “An Epidemic of Chronic Kidney Disease in Nicaragua: BUSPH Responds to a Public Health Crisis.” Attendees included Juan Jose Amador, a Nicaraguan health professional who is working in the affected community; Amar Inamdar, a CAO representative who is overseeing the conflict between the Nicaraguan sugarcane company and the organization of former workers; and Juan Dumas, an expert in conflict management who is mediating the complex dialogue process that is central to the study of this epidemic.

“Nicaragua Sugar Estates Limited may be conducting itself in accordance with work practices that we say [are] okay,” said Inamdar, principal specialist, ombudsman at the World Bank’s Office of the Compliance Advisor/Ombudsman. “But does that tell you why or how kidney disease is happening among a good 30 percent of the workforce? No.”

“People have been looking for an answer for a number of years and they haven’t found one,” said Brooks. “There have been various theories, from heat to infectious disease to toxin exposure. It’s very much still a mystery.”

Besides Brooks, other members of the research team include: Ann Aschengrau, professor of epidemiology; Michael McClean, associate professor of environmental health; Madeleine Scammell, assistant professor of environmental health; Kate Applebaum, assistant professor of epidemiology; Bruce Cohen, adjunct assistant professor of epidemiology and director of research and epidemiology at the Massachusetts Department of Public Health; and James Kaufman, MD, a renal specialist at the BU School of Medicine. Also working with the team is Daniel Weiner, a renal specialist at Tufts University School of Medicine, and Oriana Ramirez, a specialist in preventive medicine studying at Universidad Autónoma de Madrid.

While the main goal of the researchers is to identify causes and end the epidemic, Brooks said that the study process itself has fostered important advances, including a growing trust and collaboration between the various stakeholders involved.

“How do we make them work as a group to fight [chronic kidney disease]?” said Dumas, a conflict management expert. “I believe that is our main challenge. This is about people cooperating.”

For now, the researchers plan to continue testing sugar cane workers, interviewing local physicians, and examining other possible occupational and nonoccupational exposures.

For his part, Brooks, whose regular areas of research center on tobacco-related disease and cancer epidemiology, said he is hopeful that the combined skills of epidemiologists, environmental health professionals, renal disease specialists, and global health scholars eventually will lead to answers.

“This may be the most challenging, but also the most meaningful, work I’ve undertaken,” Brooks said. “It’s not often that we have a chance to do work that could have such a profound and direct impact on people’s lives.”

Submitted by Lisa Chedekel and Elana Zak

http://sph.bu.edu/insider/index.php/Recent-News/whats-causing-kidney-disease-in-nicaragua-busph-researchers-investigate.html

Durante este periodo de tiempo, sus promotores no encontraron ningún eco en Nicaragua y se toparon con el firme rechazo de las organizaciones sindicales  y de ASOCHIVIDA, la asociación de enfermos renales más importante del país. En las últimas semanas intentaron realizar algunos esfuerzos para reactivarla pero todo ha sido en vano por lo que se han visto obligados a admitir, aunque sea en privado, que no tuvieron éxito.

Realmente desde que comenzaron con sus andanzas se sabía que estábamos asistiendo a la crónica de un fracaso anunciado Y cómo podría ser de otra manera cuando a lo largo de estos meses no pudieron  presentar una sola prueba, estudio o investigación que pudiera darle un mínimo de sustento a sus insólitas afirmaciones.

Nicaragua es un país pequeño donde es difícil darle a la opinión pública “atol con el dedo” (expresión popular  que significa que a la gente no se le puede engañar fácilmente).

Un nicaragüense escribía el otro día en Internet, a propósito de unas recientes declaraciones de la Sra. Carmen Ríos de ANAIRC, que “entre bomberos no nos pisamos la manguera” o “entre gitanos no nos leemos las cartas”, para señalar que era más que evidente que lo que realmente esta señora estaba haciendo era ganarse la vida con esta “causa” ya que a sabiendas que lo que estaba planteando era absurdo y que por lo tanto no la iba a llevar a ningún lado, continuaba hablando de una lucha inexistente a fin de seguir recibiendo el financiamiento  que le proporcionan algunos activistas internacionales de reconocida trayectoria ideológica”. Un profesor universitario se metió en el sitio e hizo el comentario siguiente: “algo hay de eso”.

Lo que le puso la tapa al pomo fueron las recientes conclusiones a las que llegó la Escuela de Salud Pública de la Universidad de Boston, que presentó recientemente su informe final del estudio que realizó sobre la higiene industrial en el Ingenio San Antonio (ISA), en el que concluye que no hay evidencias de que  las prácticas laborales de la empresa estén causando Insuficiencia Renal Crónica (IRC) en sus trabajadores.

El equipo a cargo del estudio evaluó las prácticas de trabajo realizadas en la zafra 2009-2010 en el ISA, así como los productos químicos utilizados por la empresa tanto en la actualidad como en el pasado.

“No encontramos evidencia alguna de que las prácticas laborales actuales o los químicos usados por ISA actualmente o en el pasado sean causas generalmente aceptadas de IRC”, señala el informe presentado el 30 de agosto de este año.

“Con base en la investigación descrita en este informe, no encontramos evidencia alguna para concluir que las prácticas y los químicos usados por el ISA estén causando IRC en los trabajadores. Establecer si existe de hecho una asociación requerirá la creación de nuevo conocimiento científico”, reiteran los investigadores.

El estudio encomendado a esa prestigiosa universidad fue producto de un acuerdo entre Nicaragua Sugar  y ASOCHIVIDA, la más importante organización de enfermos renales del país, en el marco de un diálogo convocado por la oficina de Cumplimiento, Asesoría y Ombudsman (CAO) del Banco Mundial con el propósito de determinar evidencias que vincularan las prácticas laborales del ISA con la IRC.

El crepúsculo le ha llegado a esta ridícula campaña que, en aras de conseguir dinero y al amparo de absurdas elucubraciones ideológicas de algunos nostálgicos del estalinismo, pretendió suscitar simpatías fuera de Nicaragua jugando con la legítima solidaridad que puede despertar el sufrimiento humano.

Dichosamente, gracias, entre otros, a las posibilidades que otorga la comunicación moderna este embuste nunca pudo progresar. Sin duda alguna, es una gran lección para quienes en el futuro pretendan abusar de la buena voluntad de mucha gente honesta que existe en el mundo.

Although it has been scientifically proven that the productive and labor practices of Ingenio San Antonio do not cause CKD, as the recent study conducted by the prestigious Boston University concluded, Mr. Pellas expressed his unwavering desire to continue helping them: “CKD is a tragedy that affects them and we want to contribute to alleviate that pain”, he said during the meeting.

While reiterating the commitment to continue supporting them as it has been done for over a year, mainly with food supplies, medicines and medical care, the President of Grupo Pellas approved ASOCHIVIDA’s request so that its members receive emergency care in the San Antonio Hospital.

On the other hand, he gave special emphasis to the development of self-sustainable projects that allow patients to earn a dignified income and improve living conditions for themselves and their families.

In this sense, he committed to provide a larger sum of money for strengthening the microloan program that has been created for starting up these businesses, in such way that more people may be benefitted.

A review process of the different proposed projects is currently underway to determine their eligibility for financing.

Mr. Pellas also offered all the necessary cooperation so that Boston University may continue scientific research studies for determining the causes of CKD in this zone of Nicaragua.

The members of the Board of Directors of ASOCHIVIDA, the most representative association of kidney patients in the country’s western region, expressed their gratitude to Mr. Pellas and Nicaragua Sugar for the aid they have been receiving, as well as for the future commitments.

No obstante haber quedado demostrado científicamente que “ninguna de las prácticas laborales o ninguno de los químicos usados por el ISA son causas generalmente aceptadas de IRC”, tal y como concluyó el reciente estudio que sobre este tema realizó la prestigiada Universidad de Boston, Don Carlos les expresó su deseo firme de seguir ayudándolos: “La IRC es una tragedia que los afecta y queremos contribuir a aliviar ese dolor”, dijo durante el encuentro.

A la vez que reiteró el compromiso de continuar apoyándolos como se ha venido haciendo por más de un año, principalmente con ayuda alimenticia, medicinas y atención médica, el Presidente del Grupo Pellas manifestó su disposición de considerar la posibilidad de que los casos de emergencia de los miembros de ASOCHIVIDA sean atendidos en el Hospital del Ingenio San Antonio.

Por otra parte, hizo particular énfasis en el desarrollo de proyectos de autosostenibilidad que permitan a los enfermos obtener ingresos dignos y por ende mejorar sus condiciones de vida y las de sus familias.

En este sentido, se comprometió a destinar una cantidad de dinero aun mayor para fortalecer el fondo de microcréditos que se ha creado para la implementación de estos negocios, de manera que más personas puedan verse beneficiadas.

Actualmente se está en proceso de revisión de las diferentes propuestas de proyectos para determinar la elegibilidad de financiación.

Asimismo Don Carlos ofreció toda la cooperación que sea necesaria para que la Universidad de Boston pueda continuar con las investigaciones científicas que permitan determinar las causas de la IRC en esta zona de Nicaragua.

Los miembros de la Junta Directiva de ASOCHIVIDA, la asociación de enfermos renales más representativa del occidente del país, manifestaron su agradecimiento a Don Carlos Pellas y a Nicaragua Sugar por la ayuda que han venido recibiendo así como por los compromisos futuros.

El equipo a cargo del estudio evaluó las prácticas de trabajo realizadas en la zafra 2009-2010 en el ISA, así como los productos químicos utilizados por la empresa tanto en la actualidad como en el pasado.

“No encontramos evidencia alguna de que las prácticas laborales actuales o los químicos usados por ISA actualmente o en el pasado sean causas generalmente aceptadas de IRC”, señala el informe presentado el 30 de agosto de este año.

“Con base en la investigación descrita en este informe, no encontramos evidencia alguna para concluir que las prácticas y los químicos usados por el ISA estén causando IRC en los trabajadores. Establecer si existe de hecho una asociación requerirá la creación de nuevo conocimiento científico”, reiteran los investigadores.

La Universidad de Boston también investigó otros factores asociados a la IRC, sin encontrar nada que vincule las condiciones de trabajo con la enfermedad.

“No encontramos evidencia alguna en nuestra revisión de la literatura médica de que el golpe de calor (depleción de volumen y daño muscular), y las infecciones sistémicas (leptospirosis y hantavirus) sean causas generalmente aceptadas de IRC, y encontramos sólo evidencia muy limitada de que la exposición a estos agentes está asociada con la IRC”, señalan en sus conclusiones.

El estudio encomendado a esa prestigiosa universidad en noviembre de 2008, fue producto de un acuerdo entre Nicaragua Sugar (NSEL) y la Asociación Chichigalpa por la Vida (ASOCHIVIDA), la más importante organización de enfermos renales del país, en el marco de un diálogo convocado por la oficina de Cumplimiento, Asesoría y Ombudsman (CAO) del Banco Mundial con el propósito de determinar evidencias que vincularan las prácticas laborales del ISA con la IRC.

Los investigadores determinaron que las siguientes fases de su trabajo se enfocarán en recoger información adicional sobre exposición y salud e investigar su posible conexión con la IRC, tanto dentro del ISA como en otras áreas del Occidente de Nicaragua.

The research study team evaluated ISA’s labor practices during the 2009-2010 harvest, as well as the chemical products used by the company both now and in the past.

“We found no evidence that the current work practices or the chemicals used by ISA currently or in the past are generally accepted causes of CRI”, states the report presented last August 30.

“Based on the research described in this report, we did not find any evidence whatsoever to conclude that the practices and chemicals used by ISA are contributing to its workers developing CRI. To determine whether an association actually exists will require the production of new scientific knowledge,” researchers reiterated.

Boston University also investigated other factors associated to CRI (CKD) without finding anything that links working conditions to the disease.

“We did not find any evidence in our review of the medical literature that heat stroke (volume depletion and muscle damage) and systemic infections (leptospirosis and hantavirus) are generally accepted causes of CRI, and we only found very limited evidence that exposure to these agents is associated to CRI”, they indicated in their conclusions.

The study commissioned to this prestigious university in November 2008 was the result of an agreement between Nicaragua Sugar (NSEL) and the Chichigalpa Association for Life (ASOCHIVIDA), the most important association of CRI patients in Nicaragua, within the frame of a dialogue convened by the World Bank’s Office of the Compliance Advisor and Ombudsman (CAO), with the objective of finding evidence that linked ISA’s work practices to CRI (CKD).

The researchers determined that the following phases of their work will be focused on collecting additional information on exposure and health and investigating their potential link to CRI (CKD), both within ISA and in other areas of Nicaragua’s west region.

By Jacob Parker

In a recent article, the most conspicuous organizer of ANAIRC´s disinformation campaign against Nicaragua Sugar and the Pellas Group (Grupo Pellas) and the boycott against Flor de Caña finally decided to make an incursion into a new territory, without completely abandoning his repetitive disparaging epithets, in an attempt to give a new appearance to ANAIRC’s claims and make them seem serious.

Let’s carefully examine what this is all about.

The author persists in his old affirmation that the massive use of agro-toxic chemicals by Nicaragua Sugar contaminated the water in the zone and directly affected workers and their families, except that he says for the first time “that it occurred in the past”. Beware of misleading messages!

This could mean that we are witnessing a change of sign in the campaign because the promoters are probably overwhelmed by evidence showing that the San Antonio Sugar Mill, owned by Nicaragua Sugar Estates, does not use pesticides, but biological and mechanical pest control, which, among other things, has made it an international benchmark in the sugar industry. 

There are no grounds for sustaining this reckless affirmation that the San Antonio sugar mill (ISA) has massively applied polluting agro-toxic chemicals in the past. It is a known fact that agrochemicals used by this sugar mill in cane production are approved for use around the world, have not caused pollution, and any interested party can consult this list with the company.

As we continue to read the article, we are surprised that the author states that most of the affected persons “lived in a shantytown… withstanding everything, until they were evicted in 1998 in an effort to hide the alarming increase in CRI mortality rates…”

Is this true?

Keeping in mind the wellbeing of the workers, Nicaragua Sugar (NSEL) determined that it was necessary to rebuild the management approach that until then had governed the population that lived in the sugar mill facilities. In that sense, it was deemed that this population needed to be relocated for the following reasons:

• To provide heads of household with their own house given that they lived in a house owned by the sugar mill. Their relocation to the Candelaria neighborhood allowed them to become homeowners.
•    To comply with industrial security standards.
•    To expand the facilities as required by the factory´s growth.

The relocation site is still very close to ISA’s facilities, which has allowed the relocated population to keep providing services to the Company.

NSEL offered different options to these people, which were agreed with each family. It is well-known that the San Antonio sugar mill has continued to support residents in Candelaria by repairing streets, supporting immunization campaigns of the Ministry of Health, donating land for a children’s playground, transporting personnel, cleaning septic tanks, supplying trucks with potable water as needed, etc.

But let´s continue with the text. The writer talks about “working conditions, lack of hydration… were other elements that contributed to a direct link between CRI and the sugar industry”. 

Let’s see the working conditions of cane cutters.

Adequate practices of hydration and food consumption by ISA workers have been established as a policy by Nicaragua Sugar, which has adjusted its annual operating plans to promote healthy lifestyles.

Each team of field workers is made up of approximately 150 to 300 workers, who arrive in buses to the different plantations in groups of 60 to 70 people. Each worker brings a 4-6 liter container from his home. Each bus carries a 55-gallon plastic barrel filled with water.

On the other hand, the company provides the following benefits to the cane cutters: lunch in the field (contracted with a company and based on a balanced nutritional diet), hydrating fluids and nutritious cookies each day, medical care for each cane cutter and his family, and food supplies. A group of social and health workers supervise that cane cutters receive these benefits.

As we continue to read, we find that the panegyrist affirms that “the manual irrigation of agro-toxic chemicals was another element that contributed to a direct link between CRI and the sugar industry”.

Does this match reality?

The San Antonio sugar mill has mandatory personal protection equipment and safety measures that are strictly enforced in the application and use of agrochemicals. This equipment consists of a work uniform, long sleeve shirt, cap, mask with filters, rubber gloves, boots and raincoat.

Nicaragua Sugar periodically examines agro-chemical applicators to discard any sign of intoxication.

NSEL also provides training in diverse topics, such as use and handling of agrochemicals, biological pollution, environmental management, integral solid waste management and recycling, among others.

Nicaragua Sugar provides adequate facilities so that workers may bathe and change clothes. It has 15 showers that are used by agrochemical applicators before and after each workday. Showers and eye-washers are also available in the factory, laboratories and co-generation areas.

In the next section, the designer of the ANAIRC campaign addresses one of his favorite topics, which is to attack pseudo or white unions in the San Antonio sugar mill and rum distillery, stressing as follows: “… unfortunately one of them is affiliated to a Sandinista union (CST), which in turn is affiliated to international union organizations…”.

But what really exists?

NSEL currently has five unions that are duly certified and registered at the Directorate of Union Associations of the Ministry of Labor. These unions are: Ronald Altamirano Union with 500 members, Union of Democratic Workers with 825 members, Faustino Martínez Union with 1,500 members, Teachers’ Union with 33 members and Employees’ Union with 80 members.

The aforesaid unions represent the most varied political and ideological tendencies and the members of the Sandinista leftist union “Ronald Altamirano” would fall head over heels if they read that the pen-pusher of ANAIRC ranks them as a pseudo or white union.

Ever since NSEL began to operate in 1890, it has never interfered with the right of the workers to form unions, as proven by the fact that unions have existed in the company from the 1960s to date. However, according to the columnist, if the unions do not think like him, they are white, if the workers’ leaders denounce ANAIRC’s absurd campaign, they are in favor of the employer, if the workers demonstrate to defend their jobs and benefits in the San Antonio sugar mill, they are forced to demonstrate, and if the unions are leftist, then he doesn’t know what saint to pray to.

If we keep on reading, we will see that the writer abandons the unions and bursts into the academic world, more specifically the University of Leon, to present a study by Dr. Cecilia Torres that allows him to discourse on “the factors that cause CRI”, saying that “among the major risk factors are environmental nephrotoxins, such as heavy metals, arsenic, cadmium and lead, and agrochemicals like Aldrin, Chlorotalonil, Maneb, copper sulphate, Endrin and even DBCP (Nemagon)”.

It’s okay. However, one wonders what all this has to do with Nicaragua Sugar and the San Antonio sugar mill. None of these products have been used or are being used by the company.

But it doesn’t end there. If we scrutinize a little further, we see that the journalist, not satisfied with his unfortunate encounter with toxicology, goes back to his old ways, always under the protective shield of Dr. Torres, and refers to the “disastrous” working conditions of cane cutters in Nicaragua’s sugar industry.

What a disappointment it must be to find out that the San Antonio sugar mill has established a progressive working system so that workers adapt to environmental conditions and avoid heat stroke during the freshest hours of the day until they are able to work full days. Most workers arrive at the plantation at 6:00 a.m., start working at 7:00 a.m., and stop working between 11:00 a.m. and 12:00 noon when food is delivered at the work sites.

On the other hand, as of 2005 the company set a maximum of seven tons from an average of nine tons cut by each worker, and eliminated the higher pay incentive after the sixth ton. This incentive is now distributed among the first seven tons so as to reduce work effort without affecting the income of workers.

Going back to the article, we discovered a really sad situation in which the author manipulates some statements by Dr. Mario Jiménez, an epidemiologist at the Center for Research on Aquatic Resources (CIRA) of the Autonomous University of Nicaragua (UNAN-Managua).

With the clear intention of depicting the sugar industry, in particular the San Antonio sugar mill, as the contaminators that caused CRI, the writer tries to illustrate this with an excerpt from Dr. Jimenez’s statements: “the studies we conducted in the country’s western zone revealed the presence of organochlorinated compounds like lindane, toxaphene, DDT and DDE in the well water for human consumption…”.

To what is Dr. Jimenez referring?

To the study titled “PRESENCE AND CONCENTRATION OF PESTICIDE RESIDUES AND BIOLOGICAL CONTAMINANTS IN THE WATER WELLS FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION IN THE LOCATIONS OF THE FORMER BANANA PLANTATIONS IN THE WEST OF NICARAGUA”, which he carried out in Nicaragua’s western region, together with Dr. Salvador Montenegro Guillén, both members of Nicaragua’s Center for Research on Aquatic Resources (CIRA) at the NATIONAL AUTONOMOUS UNIVERSITY OF NICARAGUA (UNAN-Managua).  

The objectives of this study were 1) to identify the presence of pesticide residues and biological contaminants in the water wells for human consumption in the former banana plantations in Nicaragua’s western region and 2) to establish the potential relation between the presence of pesticide residues in the water wells and the effects on the health of the population that lives in those locations.

The manipulation is more than evident because the CIRA report has nothing to do with sugarcane. It is related to findings linked to mass banana production in the zone.

Chinandega was an agricultural emporium for several decades where tons of chemicals were applied to control banana and cotton pests. Years after the boom of these crops ended, many former agricultural workers began reporting serious diseases.

But there’s still more.

In his eagerness to find a scientific endorsement that legitimizes his statement about the alleged causality link between CRI and sugar production, the representative of ANAIRC goes back to interview Dr. Jiménez and attempts to obtain the endorsement that he yearns so much. Nevertheless, the most he could obtain as an answer was: “although CRI is clearly a multifactor disease, we cannot exclude that it is related to work in the sugar mills”. 

As lawyers say, the confession of the parties shifts the burden of proof. Does this have any relationship with the ANAIRC campaign where it is categorically and emphatically stated that it has already been proven so no study is needed, that CRI is unquestionably caused by sugarcane agricultural practices, particularly those of the San Antonio sugar mill, and thus the money demanded by the organization should be granted?

Now then, the man does not give up and persists in going back to the research by Dr. Torres, providing some statistics contained in this study. To quote him: “the results were not homogenous at the community level and revealed a greater incidence of CRI in the mining sector with 37%, as well as agriculture and coffee with 32% and 14%, respectively…”.

On the other hand, CRI has been detected in different occupational groups: cane cutters, miners, banana workers, stevedores and even preschool children. In other words, it does not affect just one specific labor group.

He talks here about miners, coffee growers and agriculture in general. What does this have to do with ANAIRC´s campaign that CRI is caused by the sugarcane of the San Antonio sugar mill?

Let’s look carefully.

As concerns the San Antonio sugar mill, former workers affected by CRI were temporary workers who also performed other types of agricultural activities. Many of them only worked during the harvest season and stopped working for the Company many years ago.

On the other hand, the statement contained in the article that Nicaragua Sugar never mentions the study of Dr. Torres, is not true either.  The physicians who work for this company have mentioned it and have indicated that it is one of the research studies that must be known about this health issue.

These statistics appear in the Dr. Torres’s research associated to this other: “However, the community of Isla in Chichigalpa, where the main work activity is sugarcane, the prevalence of CRI is the highest, reaching 41%…” Bingo! The intrepid publicist finally got what he wanted. Although the first statistics are irrelevant for his purpose, the second statistic is the one “that counts” because it serves him as a screen for what he needed. 

What the busy reporter does not say is that CRI is present in several zones of the country, including territories where sugar production does not exist and, in the west of the country, the disease rate is higher in Leon than in Chinandega. Even though Leon is not a sugar-producing department, the largest number of patients is reported in the municipality of Larreynaga, where cane cultivation does not exist.

Going back to the tireless narrator, we find him leaving the academia in the following paragraph and entering the detective field like Sherlock Holmes. Let´s find out what he tells us:

 “According to a document in the possession of ANAIRC, signed by Marino Castrillo, Director of Human Resources at the San Antonio sugar mill, exhaustive water analyses were made in the San Antonio sugar mill, which showed that the water is heavily contaminated with agro-toxic chemicals and relating this presence to the CRI disease…”

He omits to mention that the referenced document was an outright falsification, for which reason Dr. Castrillo filed a criminal complaint in the Sole Local Court of Chichigalpa in 2008. It is a powerful attention grabber that ANAIRC uses this falsification object of a criminal proceeding in its campaign against Nicaragua Sugar.

But where will this modern version of Caupolican take us now? Surprise! In his obsessive thinking about the Pellas Group and NSEL, he introduces Mrs. Yanirée Alvarez, indicating that she was a member at a given time of the social movement of Leon, and quotes her as saying that Nicaragua Sugar Estates Limited tried to purchase 1,500 additional hectares of land to expand cane production “without taking into account that cane cultivation requires the extraction of large amounts of water… which is already seriously affecting water reserves of the population in the rural zones…”

The purchase of land by any company engaged in agricultural production is a normal activity that nobody in his right mind can question. In the case of Nicaragua Sugar, these purchases have been made pursuant to the laws, paying market prices based on supply and demand.

Insofar as that cane production would be detrimental for water availability in the zone,  it is necessary to point out that the San Antonio sugar mill has abundant water sources and manages them in a sustainable manner. Water is obtained from 116 wells, 57 river and channel intakes, and 16 diversion dams along the different rivers that cross the sugar mill. Nicaragua Sugar has the necessary permits for the drilling of wells and intakes from rivers, channels and dams issued by the relevant authorities.

It has been estimated that available volume in the hydrologic water basin that supplies ISA and its surroundings is 309 million cubic meters. According to the irrigation use of this watershed, total annual consumption is estimated at 100 million cubic meters, of which 25% percolates through the soil and eventually returns to the aquifer as recharge and the remaining 75% is easily covered by annual precipitations in the zone between the months of May and November, averaging 70 inches per year.

We have an indicator for this in the standards for well measurements performed for over 40 years at ISA, which indicators, such as static level and dynamic level, remain without great variations.

In 1998[1] and 2000[2], hydrological and hydro-geological studies on water availability, extraction and safe yields were carried out in the area of the sugar mill and Chinandega-Leon-Nagarote watershed. The results of both studies show that the San Antonio sugar mill makes adequate use of water resources.

Since the article seeks to be exhaustive, the audacious conjurer later refers to renewable energy and again quotes Mrs. Alvarez, saying that cane cultivation would affect the environment to benefit “only a privileged group of businessmen”, as opposed to the potentials of geothermal, wind and solar energy.

How far-fetched!

In the San Antonio sugar mill, sugarcane bagasse is used to generate electricity, instead of being discarded. Co-generation capacity is 60 MW per hour, which allows for eliminating the use of bunker and providing 7% of Nicaragua’s power consumption during the harvest. It is a clean and cheap energy source. Since bunker is not consumed, it is estimated that over 95 thousand tons of greenhouse gases are reduced per year.

After the harvest, in the months of May through July, 17 MW of electricity are produced per hour, of which 12 MW are sold to the national interconnection system. This clean energy is generated with eucalyptus chips originating from the nursery of the San Antonio sugar mill, where 800 thousand plants are produced each year and renovated in 7,650 acres. To date, more than 6 million trees have been planted.

In his relentless effort to find faults attributable to Nicaragua Sugar, the columnist in question passes to talk with a painstaking air about deforestation caused by cane production.

Let’s analyze this also.

Nicaragua Sugar promotes the planting of native species each year as a way of contributing to the recovery and protection of water sources, the preservation of biological wildlife corridors, forest fire protection and natural regeneration. This reforestation is carried out along the banks of different rivers in the municipalities of Chichigalpa, Quezalguaque, Posoltega, Leon and Chinandega. Some reforestation activities are carried out with students, municipal governments, civil society and government institutions, with the objective of involving all the population in the protection of the environment.

The nursery at the San Antonio sugar mill produces 50,000 native tree species each year, such as kapok, strawberry tree, cedar, mahogany, guanacaste and oak, which are used for reforestation. In 2006 and 2007, for example, 53,500 different species were planted to reforest more than 356 acres of river banks. In 2008, 45,000 new trees were planted in 365 acres along the banks of diverse rivers in Leon and Chinandega.

But there´s still more. The officious spokesman of ANAIRC goes back to the trite theme of Law 456 that recognizes CRI as a professional disease in Nicaragua.

Any person with some knowledge about Nicaraguan legislation knows that this recognition does not establish a causality link between a specific productive activity and CRI. It is known and has been stated on numerous occasions that a medical assessment committee exists.

If the spokesperson were right, ANAIRC would have solved the problem and would have obtained all the money it has persistently sought for several years.

In relation to the statements of the INSS Director, which are taken out of context, the official position of the Government of Nicaragua is not known. As far as raising the percentage that farmers pay to the INSS on account of occupational risks from 1 to 5%, the idea is so preposterous that it never prospered. 

Unfortunately never satisfied, ANAIRC´s skilled swordsman meddles with ASOCHIVIDA, Nicaragua´s most representative organization of kidney patients, with which NSEL has maintained for more than one year a very positive dialogue on the CRI problem that affects the members of this association.

ASOCHIVIDA is not at all like ANAIRC. While the first tries to find a solution to the problem, the latter, entrenched in its unjustified money demands, has self-excluded itself from being part of the solution. For that reason and that reason only, it is so isolated in Nicaragua. 

ASOCHIVIDA and NSEL agreed that an international, impartial and prestigious organization would conduct a study to determine the causes of CRI in the west of Nicaragua.

After an exhaustive process that involved 9 public agencies, 22 U.S. and European universities and 5 private consulting firms, Boston University was chosen to conduct the study.

The final results of the study will provide important knowledge on the causes of this disease in the west of Nicaragua, define potential liabilities, if any, and articulate prevention and response strategies.

Nicaragua Sugar, faithful to its social responsibility tradition and as an expression of support to the community, has offered its solidarity to the people in the nearby communities who suffer chronic renal insufficiency.

Between 2000 and 2004 it delivered humanitarian and economic aid in the amount of approximately two million dollars to over 1,400 people affected by CRI and currently provides nutritional support to 1,800 families that are members of ASOCHIVIDA and medical assistance to the patients consisting of medicines, equipment and inputs for the Chichigalpa Health Center.

In the limits of disinformation and ready for action, the distinguished essayist moves to the financial terrain and says that Nicaragua Sugar “requested a $25 million loan from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) to purchase 1,500 hectares of land to expand cane cultivation…”  And he then adds that “to accede to a loan from IDB, no judicial causes of action can be pending. Nicaragua Sugar Estates Limited has administrative and judicial causes of action pending…”

It is really sad that he makes no effort to investigate his information. For that reason, among other things, the sponsors of ANAIRC lack credibility.

Even though it is not a crime to apply for a loan, Nicaragua Sugar has never applied or plans to apply for a loan with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). If ANAIRC´s apologist has doubts, he can easily confirm this information with IDB.

As concerns the judicial causes of action, some persons did file complaints in this regard, but all of them were dismissed by the courts of justice in separate judgments.

Finally, our illustrious character and the brain behind ANAIRC´s campaign, affirms that ISA has 144 thousand manzanas of land, when any minimally informed person knows that the San Antonio sugar mill owns approximately 19,000 manzanas of land. If the detractor of Nicaragua Sugar wants to verify this through independent sources, the only thing he has to do, which is not very complicated, is to visit the respective offices of the State of Nicaragua where this information can be confirmed.

According to Goebbels, the famous Nazi Minister of Propaganda, “If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it.”

Maybe this is the source of inspiration of those developing this campaign.

[1] Actualización hidrogeológica del área del Ingenio San Antonio. Thesis for obtaining the title of agriculture engineer, UNI, 1998.

[2] Hydrologic and hydro-geologic study in the Pacific region of Nicaragua, Chinandega – Leon – Nagarote region, Phase I. INETER, 2000.