AUSTRALIAN Cane Farmers Association (ACFA) Senior Deputy Chairman, Robert Quirk, has joined a global team of experts to help investigate the causes of, and to help implement measures to prevent the spread of a form of chronic kidney disease (CKDnT) that is devastating the Central American hand cane cutting community.
The Worker Health and Efficiency (WE) Program, a workplace intervention study, will improve working conditions for local sugarcane cutters while investigating the causes of CKDnT.
Although experts cannot confirm the exact causes of CKDnT, they do know it is not related to traditional chronic kidney disease. However, there is a common belief that the causes of this horrific epidemic include extreme heat stress and recurrent dehydration.
Mr Quirk said when he was last in El Salvador, he visited a hospital where many of the patients were cane cutters who were having treatment for CKDnT.
“There is no doubt that these people were chronically ill from this disease, most have no chance of recovery,” Mr Quirk said.
“The conditions that the cane cutters work in are unimaginable to most people. These guys work in the searing heat for hours at a time, their only source of water is what they bring with them to work, with the intervention project the mill will provide clean water on the headland as required,” he said.
Mr Quirk, along with the help of champion cane cutter from Ayr, Paul Donnelly, travelled to El Salvador recently to teach the cane cutters a technique which allows them to cut the same about of cane while using far less energy.
“The idea is that if we can change the cutting technique to preserve energy as well as encourage regulations to ensure sufficient water intake and rest, then the rates of CKDnT will be significantly reduced.”
Mr Quirk and ACFA are very proud to be partnering with the following organisations to help tackle CKDnT:
La Isla Foundation- La Isla Foundation aims to facilitate research to identify the cause of the CKDnT epidemic and implement necessary interventions to support affected workers and prevent future generations from becoming ill.
Solidaridad- Solidaridad is an international civil society organisation with more than 45 years of global experience in facilitating the development of socially responsible, ecologically sound, and profitable supply chains.
Ingenio El Angel (IEA)- IEA has provided a location for the WE Program’s pilot study at its sugar mill in El Salvador. IEA’s cane cutters have generously offered their participation, with mill management providing logistical support for the research. IEA is exemplifying industry leadership in the fight against CKDnT.
AGDYSA- The Agency for Development and Agricultural Health (AGDYSA) is coordinating implementation of the WE Program, providing technical assistance to all parties.
CamelBak- Hydration backpack manufacturer CamelBak provides steeply discounted packs to the WE Program. The packs ensure workers have constant access to water while they work, preventing chronic dehydration, a factor linked to CKDnT onset.
Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA)- Run by the United States Department of Labor, the occupational safety and health agency is providing a trainer and training materials to help implement their ‘Water.Rest.Shade’ program in the cane fields.
Sweden’s Karolinska Institute and Lund University, along with Colorado University have helped design the program as well as implementing and evaluating it.
For more information about the project, visit https://laislafoundation.org/
