Khairul Saleh, The Jakarta Post, Palembang
Scores of participants at the 12th National Farmers and Fishermen Week in Banyuasin regency, South Sumatra, have fallen ill due to poor sanitation at the event venue.
Participants were lining up Wednesday at a command post organized by event organizers for medical care.
Indarjo, who is attending the event from Bengkulu, was seeking treatment for a stomachache.
Doctors at the post said he was suffering from digestive problems.
"I rarely get sick, but since I arrived here I get sick easily. I don't think the sanitation here is as good as expected," Indarjo said.
He added that he was unable to take part in many of the planned activities because he was too sick.
The weeklong event, which was opened by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Saturday, is being attended by 21,000 farmers and fishermen from 33 provinces across the country, as well as representatives from Association of Southeast Asian Nation (ASEAN) countries and Japan.
The event is designed as a forum to exchange information on the latest development in the agriculture and fishery sectors, including agriculture technology development in the regions.
The event is also intended to help improve communication among farmers and fishermen groups to enable them to help improve their welfare.
Participants are being accommodated in thousands of houses belonging to local residents in 25 villages in Sembawa district. At the event venue itself, many of the provided toilets are not working properly.
Achmad, a participant from Ogan Komering Ilir regency, said he has suffered from diarrhea since drinking water taken from a nearby well.
He said the poor sanitation was aggravated by the large amount of dust blowing through the area, which had caused breathing problems and headaches.
Other participants have complained of flu, toothaches, coughing and digestive problems.
H. Panut of the South Sumatra Health Office, said, "All of them (the complaints) have been caused by poor sanitation at the event venue."
Panut said the office was providing medicines, vitamins and medical services for participants.
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