Scenes in the dialysis unit of the Narayana Medical College in Nellore, India on January 12, 2016.
Scenes with Ventkataiah, a CKD patient, and his family and community members in the village of Kota, outside of Nellore, India on January 13, 2016.
Mahgeswari, the 17 year old daughter of Ventkataiah, a CKD patient, and his family and community members in the village of Kota, outside of Nellore, India on January 14, 2016.
Jason Glaser with a research team that includes Dr. Ben Caplin and Kristina Jakobsson, visit Ventkataiah, a CKD patient, and his wife in the village of Kota, outside of Nellore, India on January 18, 2016.
Ramesh M., 40, a former salt pan worker, in the dialysis clinic of the Pondicherry Institute of Medicines in Pondicherry, India on January 22, 2016.
He has CKD and is in stage 5 renal failure, with a wife and 2 kids, and cannot work anymore.
A mobile CKD testing team take blood and urin samples of patients in the village of Pedda Srirampuram, India on January 25, 2016.
A mobile CKD testing team take blood and urin samples of patients in the village of Pedda Srirampuram, India on January 25, 2016.
Rajanj Kumar Dolai, the sarpanj (leader) of the community in the village of Balliputtuga, India on January 26, 2016.
In his village out of 3200 people, there are 126 widows from CKD.
Widows of CKD victims and sufferers themselves meet in the village of Balliputtuga, India on January 26, 2016.
D. Kesavarao, 49, is stage 5 CKD and undergoes dialysis in a town 2 hours away, with his wife Damayanthi, 45, in Pedda Srirampuram, India, shot on January 28, 2016.
Edmundo Rafael Aguilar Vasquez, 32, of the hamlet of El Chumpon stands alone on the street of his hamlet. He has suffered from CKDnT since he was 18 years old, receiving dialysis for 14 years. His sister, Lina Aguilar also suffers from CKDnT and doctores, unable to diagnose his disease, told them it was genetic. He worked with his father in the pepper and tomato fields for 3-4 years before falling ill but is unsure as to what to attribute his sickness to. El Chumpon, Paijan, La Libertad, Peru.
Arid landscapes between Trujillo and Chiclayo in northeaster Peru, where CKDnT is an understudied issue facing agricultural and other laborers.
Members of the Global Health Center under the direction of Sergio Mimbela, visit 6 communites to collect urine samples as part of a three year, salt replacement, study being carried out to try to reduce hypertension in the population. In northeastern Peru, CKDnT is an understudied issue facing agricultural and other laborers. Tumbes, Peru.
Juan Carlos Zapata Mojoyan, 39, of El Salitral has suffered from CKDnT for 8 yers, undergoing dialysis treatment in that time. Now working as a moto taxi driver, he worked for 10 years in the banana fields, hauling bunches of the fruit from the fields to trucks before falling ill. He claims workers there had to bring their own water to work, which they would share or drink corn alcohol, or chicha, during work. Before working in the banana fields at 18, he worked since he was 6 years old, with his father in the rice fields. His wife suffers from kidney stones but claims his two children are healthhy. El Salitral, Sullana, Piura, Peru.
Sugarcane is mechanically harvested outisde of the MATER Esperanza Dialysis Unit as an administrator works in her office in Chocope, Trujillo, Peru. “The dust is our biggest enemy here.” she said.
Dr. Joel Zapata, chief nephrologist of the hemodialysis wards in Piura and Sullana sys that 30% of his dialysis patients are young men, 20-30 years old suffering from CKDnT. “They arrive convulsing, vomiting and already at stage 5 kidney failure, never having shown symptoms before. Most come from the countryside and had worked in agriculture, fishing or on the docks.” Sullana, Piura, Peru.
Former sugarcane worker Ramon Uriel Munguia, 27, suffers from CKDnT in Chichigalpa, Nicaragua. (Photo: Ed Kashi)
Reina Lira, 27, of La Isla de Guanacastal, Chichigalpa, Nicaragua participates in the INATECH mechancis program sponsored by Fundacion Comunitaria Isla (FCI). Reina with her aunt who works in sugarcane fields planting, cutting seed and other jobs.
Juan Carlo Somarriba Flores, 30, a former sugarcane worker sick with CKDnT, sits at home with his two daughters and wife in Chichigalpa, Nicaragua. He now works at home repairing cell phones. His wife, Nubia Elena Navarro Mattus, pregnant at the time of the photo, is a local political organizer in their community of “Manhattan.” (Photo: Tom Laffay)
Walter Arsenio Rivera, 29, poses with his father, Antonio Arsenio Rivera, 58, in the cane fields of Chichigalpa, Nicaragua on Jan. 6, 2013. Both men suffer from chronic kidney disease. La Isla is dedicated to fighting the epidemic of kidney disease in Chichigalpa, Nicaragua. They work with health officials and researchers to provide better medical treatment for the sick and to study the causes of the epidemic. They support and organize workers and their families through education programs, health initiatives, and economic development projects. And we are committed to breaking the silence that shrouds this epidemic.
Jose Antonio Orian Estrada, 55, of San Vicente, El Salvador undergoing dialysis treatment for Chronic Kidney Disease of non traditional causes at the Rosales Hospital in San Salvador. He worked as a agricultural laborer his whole life, including 5 years cutting sugarcane for the Jiboa Sugar Mill, while also cultivating corn and beans on rented land. He blames his exposure to chemical insecticides for causing his kidney disease.
Former sugarcane worker Julio Lopez, 35, suffers end stages of CKDnT in Chichigalpa, Nicaragua. Lopez worked for 15 years in the cane fields before falling sick. (Photo: Ed Kashi)
Former sugarcane worker Julio Lopez, 35, suffers end stages of CKDnT in Chichigalpa, Nicaragua while his son Cesar, 12, massages his foot. Lopez worked for 15 years in the cane fields before falling sick. (Photo: Ed Kashi)
He is with his son Cesar, 12, his daughter Miurel, 15 and a nephew. He worked for 15 years in the cane fields before getting sick.
Ernesto Narajes, 30, suffers from CKDnT and receives peritoneal dialysis at home. (Photo: Ed Kashi)
Julio Cesar Maltez, 53, an agricultural worker who has CKDnT, lies in the dialysis clinic of España Hospital in Chinandega, Nicaragua. (Photo: Ed Kashi)
Jose Antonio Orian Estrada, 55, of San Vicente, El Salvador undergoing dialysis treatment for Chronic Kidney Disease of non traditional causes at the Rosales Hospital in San Salvador. He worked as a agricultural laborer his whole life, including 5 years cutting sugarcane for the Jiboa Sugar Mill, while also cultivating corn and beans on rented land. He blames his exposure to chemical insecticides for causing his kidney disease.
Sugarcane cutters from Los Almendros near Suchitoto, El Salvador participate in an early morning data collection as part of La Isla Foundation’s WE Program, or worker health and efficiency program which aims to study the workers’ renal function as well as improve labor conditions to reduce rates of Chronic Kidney Disease of non Tradiotanl causes (CKDnT).
The WE Program team gets ready for workers to arrive to work in a field outside of Apopa, El Salvador for an early morning data collection as part of La Isla Foundation’s WE Program, or worker health and efficiency program which aims to study the workers’ renal function as well as improve labor conditions to reduce rates of Chronic Kidney Disease of non Tradiotanl causes (CKDnT).
The WE Program team gets ready for workers to arrive to work in a field outside of Apopa, El Salvador for an early morning data collection as part of La Isla Foundation’s WE Program, or worker health and efficiency program which aims to study the workers’ renal function as well as improve labor conditions to reduce rates of Chronic Kidney Disease of non Tradiotanl causes (CKDnT).
Workers carry a shade tent into a sugarcane field outside of Apopa, El Salvador as part of the WE Program, or worker health and efficiency program which aims to study the workers’ renal function as well as improve labor conditions to reduce rates of Chronic Kidney Disease of non Tradiotanl causes (CKDnT).
Workers from San Jose Guayabal, under the direction of Domingo Menendez take a mandatory rest break as part fo the WE Program, or worker health and efficiency program which aims to study the workers’ renal function as well as improve labor conditions to reduce rates of Chronic Kidney Disease of non Traditional causes (CKDnT). The intiiative is being led by La Isla Foundation in collaboration with with the El Angel sugar mill.
Sugarcane workers in the lowland group of the WE Program in San Luis Talpa, El Salvador install shade tents and take mandated rest breaks between cutting cane. The WE Program in El Salvador is a worker health and efficiency intervention to try to reduce and prevent Chronic Kidney Disease of non Traditional causes among agriculatural workers led by La Isla Network.
Edgar Capacho, 42, of San Jose Guayabal, Canton Ya No Grande, cuts sugarcane with the “capota” style machete, an older model used to cut mainly green cane. He switched to this after his new WE Program Australian machete broke two weeks preveiously. “I’ts too hard, it doesn’t sharpen up right.’
Saul Cerrano, 36, of San Jose Guayabal, Canton Palacio, uses the “Australiano” Machete to cut sugarcane. The WE Program in El Salvador is a worker health and efficiency intervention to try to reduce and prevent Chronic Kidney Disease of non Traditional causes among agriculatural workers led by La Isla Network.
Former sugarcane cutter Gemila Sanchez of San Jose Guayabal monitors temperatures in the sugarcane fields as part of the WE Program. The WE Program in El Salvador is a worker health and efficiency intervention to try to reduce and prevent Chronic Kidney Disease of non Traditional causes among agriculatural workers led by La Isla Network.
Sugarcane workers under the direction of Domingo Mendoza from San Jose Guayabal take a mandatory rest break to drink water and recover from hot conditions as part of the WE Program. The WE Program in El Salvador is a worker health and efficiency intervention to try to reduce and prevent Chronic Kidney Disease of non Traditional causes among agriculatural workers led by La Isla Network.
Sugarcane workers under the direction of Domingo Mendoza from San Jose Guayabal take a mandatory rest break to drink water and recover from hot conditions as part of the WE Program. The WE Program in El Salvador is a worker health and efficiency intervention to try to reduce and prevent Chronic Kidney Disease of non Traditional causes among agriculatural workers led by La Isla Network.
Sugarcane workers under the direction of Domingo Mendoza from San Jose Guayabal take a mandatory rest break to drink water and recover from hot conditions as part of the WE Program. The WE Program in El Salvador is a worker health and efficiency intervention to try to reduce and prevent Chronic Kidney Disease of non Traditional causes among agriculatural workers led by La Isla Network.
Sugarcane workers under the direction of Domingo Mendoza from San Jose Guayabal take a mandatory rest break to drink water and recover from hot conditions as part of the WE Program. The WE Program in El Salvador is a worker health and efficiency intervention to try to reduce and prevent Chronic Kidney Disease of non Traditional causes among agriculatural workers led by La Isla Network.
Green cane is burnt to discard of the leaves while workers proceed to cut through the field in Los Almendros, Cuscatlan, El Salvador. During the week of February 22-28 researchers working with the WE Program used state of the art accelerometers to measure the difference in work load between the two machetes used by sugarcane cutters in the program. Researchers also studied heat stress as a substudy involved in the program.
Adolfo Antonio Paises Hernandez, 20, of Los Almendros, Cuscatlan, El Salvador cutting cane while particpating in an accelerometer study.During the week of February 22-28 researchers working with the WE Program used state of the art accelerometers to measure the difference in work load between the two machetes used by sugarcane cutters in the program. Researchers also studied heat stress as a substudy involved in the program.
Workers from Los Almendros, Cuscatlan, El Salvador hydrate in different ways during work cutting sugarcane, but the shade ents provide a place to rest ina cooler temperature and refill their bottles or hydration backpacks. During the week of February 22-28 researchers working with the WE Program used state of the art accelerometers to measure the difference in work load between the two machetes used by sugarcane cutters in the program. Researchers also studied heat stress as a substudy involved in the program.
Jose Antonio Orian Estrada, 55, of San Vicente, El Salvador undergoing dialysis treatment for Chronic Kidney Disease of non traditional causes at the Rosales Hospital in San Salvador. He worked as a agricultural laborer his whole life, including 5 years cutting sugarcane for the Jiboa Sugar Mill, while also cultivating corn and beans on rented land. He blames his exposure to chemical insecticides for causing his kidney disease.
Hugo Ariel, 22, of La Libertad, El Salvador undergoing dialysis treatment for Chronic Kidney Disease of non traditional causes at the Rosales Hospital in San Salvador. At 15 years old he bagan workin on his family’s 6 manzanas of land, clutivating beans and corn. The only one in his family suffering from CKDnT, he blames his exposure to chemicals used on his crops for causing his disease which he developed two years earlier. He has been receiving dialysis treatment for a year.
Ermando de Jesus Hernandez, 39, of Los Almendros, Cuscatlan, El Salvador suffers from CKDnT. He has lost his father, a brother and his other brother is currently very sicks with the disease. He continues to cut sugarcane as a means to provide for his family, earning $2.26 per ton cut. Sugarcane cutters from Los Almendros near Suchitoto, El Salvador participate in an early morning data collection as part of La Isla Foundation’s WE Program, or worker health and efficiency program which aims to study the workers’ renal function as well as improve labor conditions to reduce rates of Chronic Kidney Disease of non Tradiotanl causes (CKDnT).
Ermando de Jesus Hernandez, 39, of Los Almendros, Cuscatlan, El Salvador suffers from CKDnT. He has lost his father, a brother and his other brother is currently very sicks with the disease. He continues to cut sugarcane as a means to provide for his family, earning $2.26 per ton cut. Sugarcane cutters from Los Almendros near Suchitoto, El Salvador participate in an early morning data collection as part of La Isla Foundation’s WE Program, or worker health and efficiency program which aims to study the workers’ renal function as well as improve labor conditions to reduce rates of Chronic Kidney Disease of non Tradiotanl causes (CKDnT).
Ermando de Jesus Hernandez, 39, of Los Almendros, Cuscatlan, El Salvador suffers from CKDnT. He has lost his father, a brother and his other brother is currently very sicks with the disease. He continues to cut sugarcane as a means to provide for his family, earning $2.26 per ton cut. Sugarcane cutters from Los Almendros near Suchitoto, El Salvador participate in an early morning data collection as part of La Isla Foundation’s WE Program, or worker health and efficiency program which aims to study the workers’ renal function as well as improve labor conditions to reduce rates of Chronic Kidney Disease of non Tradiotanl causes (CKDnT).
Ermando de Jesus Hernandez, 39, and his wife Maria Elsi Albanero, 34 in thier home in Los Almendros, Cuscatlan, El Salvador. He suffers from CKDnT and has lost his father, a brother and his other brother is currently very sicks with the disease. He continues to cut sugarcane as a means to provide for his wife and three children, earning $2.26 per ton cut. Sugarcane cutters from Los Almendros near Suchitoto, El Salvador participate in an early morning data collection as part of La Isla Foundation’s WE Program, or worker health and efficiency program which aims to study the workers’ renal function as well as improve labor conditions to reduce rates of Chronic Kidney Disease of non Tradiotanl causes (CKDnT).
Ilana Weiss of La Isla Foundation leads a team of researchs during data collection at a field outside of Apopa, El Salvador for an early morning data collection as part of La Isla Foundation’s WE Program, or worker health and efficiency program which aims to study the workers’ renal function as well as improve labor conditions to reduce rates of Chronic Kidney Disease of non Tradiotanl causes (CKDnT).
Workers carry a shade tent into a sugarcane field outside of Apopa, El Salvador as part of the WE Program, or worker health and efficiency program which aims to study the workers’ renal function as well as improve labor conditions to reduce rates of Chronic Kidney Disease of non Tradiotanl causes (CKDnT).
Kevin Alfonso Alas Enriquez, 24, of San Jose Guayabal, used to wrok cutting sugarcane but now works as part of a team that carrys shade tents and water into a sugarcane field outside of Apopa, El Salvador as part of the WE Program, or worker health and efficiency program which aims to study the workers’ renal function as well as improve labor conditions to reduce rates of Chronic Kidney Disease of non Traditional causes (CKDnT).
Sugrcane fields as the sun rises at La Carrera sugar, cacao and plantain operation near the Bay of Juquilisco, El Salvador.
Men and women work in the sugarcane fields in the early morning at La Carrera sugar, cacao and plantain operation near the Bay of Juquilisco, El Salvador.
Maria Martinez, 40, of La Carrera, Juiquilisco, El Salvador, has worked for ayear collecting the leftover scrps of sugarcane and putting them into piles to later be picked up and shipped off with the rest of the collected cane. She used to work in the plantain operations and she has a 12 year old daughter sick with Chronic Kidney Disease of non Tradiotanl causes who reveives treatment at a loal hospital. Pictured at La Carrera sugar, cacao and plantain operation near the Bay of Juquilisco, El Salvador.