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Sugar mills donate 917 kits and supplies for health workers to protect themselves from COVID-19

The Guatemalan Sugar Industry through its Sugar Foundation –Fundazucar– show solidarity with Guatemalans in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic and donate 917 kits for workers at health centers in the South of Guatemala, which consist of 4 masks KN95, 2 gowns, 3 pairs of gloves and 1 face mask.

The sugar mills will also donate 94 gallons of antibacterial gel soap and 96 gallons of alcohol to health posts. In the same way, 152 gallons of alcohol will be donated to 17 municipalities.

Additionally, disposable paper towels will be donated to 48 health services in the 5 departments.

These supplies will allow health workers to carry out their tasks more safely and can better prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

Faced with the health emergency caused by the Coronavirus Covid-19 pandemic, the Guatemalan Sugar Industry have shown solidarity with Guatemalan families by making contributions to support the efforts of the Government, which includes the donation of Q7.64 million for the equipment of the Hospital that is installed in the South of the country and the usufruct of the land of 10,000 square meters for its installation at kilometer 92 of the CA-2 in Santa Lucía Cotzumalguapa.

Also, the donation of 35 mechanical respirator for intensive care that will be given to the Ministry of Public Health and Social Assistance -MSPAS- to save the lives of patients with COVID-19. This respirator was developed in the heart of the Guatemalan Sugar Industry, in La Union Sugar Mill workshops, by Eng. Edwin Delgado.

In the same way, the Guatemalan Sugar Industry made available to the Government of Guatemala 110,251 pounds of sugar fortified with vitamin A, which were included in the kit of food, which the Government delivered to thousands of families in vulnerable situations.

Also as part of the changes brought about by the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, Fundazúcar has adapted social programs and focused its work on training municipal workers, sanitation workers and community leaders, key actors in the prevention of COVID-19 and to promote local development processes.

 

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Fundazucar joins the Guatemalan Great National Crusade for Nutrition

Fundazúcar se une a la Gran Cruzada Nacional por la Nutrición en Guatemala

Fundazucar, the social arm of the Guatemalan Sugar Industry, joined the Great National Crusade for Nutrition by signing a letter of understanding with the Secretariat of Food and Nutrition Security of Guatemala – Sesan -. With this alliance, Fundazucar will help facilitate nutritional counseling in the departments of the South of Guatemala.

Firma Sesan y Fundazúcar
Maritza Mendez de Oliva, Secretary of Food and Nutrition Security of Guatemala (Photo courtesy of SESAN)

The detection of cases is led by the Ministry of Public Health and Social Assistance (MSPAS) with the support of the Sesan. Its goal is to serve 100% of the girls and boys under 5 years of age diagnosed with malnutrition acute, moderate or severe.

Fundazucar and Sesan come together with the aim of contributing jointly to the active search for cases of girls and boys with acute malnutrition. Fundazucar will form brigades to develop the active search in 57 municipalities in the south of the country, in which it has a presence with the Communities in Development program.

Alfredo Vila, president of the Guatemalan Sugar Association – Asazgua -, stated: “The Foundation has been collaborating since 1998 with food security, and this event allows us to participate and collaborate with the goals proposed by the Guatemalan Government.

Also, Maria Silvia Pineda, representative of Fundazucar, highlighted that as a productive sector representing the Guatemalan sugar mills, it is expected to be an instrument of collaboration and integration of efforts.

Fundazúcar se une a la Gran Cruzada Nacional por la Nutrición en Guatemala

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The Guatemalan Sugar Industry shows solidarity with Guatemalans in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic

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The Guatemalan Sugar Industry presents Guild Policy of Respect for Human Rights

Politica DDHH4

The Guatemalan Sugar Industry presented its Policy of Respect for Human Rights that reaffirms the Sugar Industry’s commitment to observe and fulfill the fundamental rights enunciated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and in the International Labor Organization -ILO- Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work.

This Policy of Respect for Human Rights complements and frames the policies and regulations that govern the Guatemalan Sugar Industry since 2000, which, based on national legislation, adapt sugarcane activities for a responsible operation focused on social, economic and environmental sustainability.

The objective of this Policy is to contribute to the State of GuatemalaPolitica DDHH2 in respect of Human Rights, promoting the training and strengthening of capacities in Human Rights for employees, as well as in the supply chain. In addition, ensure compliance with the existing guild policies for the prevention, mitigation, and resolution of impacts on the community. In the same way, encourage dialogue for action on human rights.

“We are companies committed to the economic growth and social development of Guatemalans, our contribution to the country is manifested every day. For us, the human being is the center of our work“, said Alfredo Vila, president of the Guatemalan Sugar Association -Asazgua-.

During this process, there was technical support from the International Labor Organization, through CEGESTI, an institution that facilitated the formulation workshops.

“We have not found such a sophisticated, structured and well-run process from the private sector and business leaders anywhere in the world and that is why we classify it as unprecedented, which happens with great pleasure from Guatemala,” said Randall Arias, of the ILO Sub-regional Office in San José, Costa Rica, regarding the policy creation process.

“Given the commitments that Guatemala has with the international agenda of the Sustainable Development Goals, Guild Policy of Respect for Human Rights launch of the Guatemalan Sugar Industry, constitutes a clear commitment and contribution, from the generation of decent jobs, the production of sugar and its derivatives, as well as representing Guatemala in world markets as a productive sector that supports government efforts with an international view”, said Maria Silvia Pineda, Asazgua Sustainability Manager.

Politica DDHH1The public presentation of the Guild Policy of Respect for Human Rights was virtual and, in addition to Asazgua executives and directors, also participated: Leonardo Ferreira, ILO Deputy Director for Central America, Haiti, Panama and the Dominican Republic; Randall Arias, from the ILO Sub-regional Office in Costa Rica; Pedro Brolo, Minister of Foreign Relations of Guatemala; Carla Rodríguez, Guatemalan Ambassador to the UN in Geneva; Roberto Ardón, Cacif executive director; Carla Caballeros, Camagro executive director and Daira Gómez de Cegesti.

To access the Guatemalan Sugar Industry Policy of Respect for Human Rights (in Spanish) here.

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The Guatemalan Sugar Industry and AGEXPORT join efforts to train public workers and prevent the spread of COVID-19

Capacitacion-servidores-publicos-Covid19

Faced with the health emergency caused by the COVID-19 Coronavirus pandemic, the Guatemalan sugar mills through their social arm, Fundazucar joined with the Guatemalan Association of Exporters (AGEXPORT) to train public workers in order to support them in the implementation of prevention measures in markets and squares.

Training began for market managers and administrators on July 16th, as well as cleaning and garbage collection personnel and municipal police from said food supply centers. Training will continue in August and it is estimated that 468 public workers will be reached in 26 municipalities in the 5 departments of the South of Guatemala.

Capacitacion-servidores-publicos-Covid19Through a letter of understanding, both institutions established an alliance to train public workers in accordance with the “Guide of Recommendations for the Operation of Markets and Public Squares and Prevention of COVID-19” prepared by AGEXPORT and delivered to the National Association Municipalities and the Guatemalan Ministry of Economy.

“Contributing to the efforts of the authorities for the prevention of COVID-19 is part of our commitment with the well-being of Guatemalan families, especially on the South of the country,” said Luis Miguel Paiz, General Manager of the Guatemalan Sugar Producers Association.

“The objective is to mitigate the impact of the pandemic on people’s health and enable economic reactivation in a sustainable way. As export sector, we have been actively supporting actions to protect people’s health and well-being, because we are convinced that only united we will succeed”, stated Amador Carballido, General Director of AGEXPORT.

“Fundazucar integrated the contents of the guide prepared by AGEXPORT into its Municipal Development Program that it has been carrying out for 25 years to contribute with local development,” said María Silvia Pineda, Executive Director of Fundazucar.