Healthy Officer, a Recipe for Healthy Democracy

The 2024 general election is just around the corner. The distribution of election materials is ongoing and is expected to be finished a month before the election date. The selection of the 2024 Election Team has been finalized, and they are prepared to fulfill their state duties starting February 14.

Discussing elections is incomplete without mentioning the Voting Organizing Group (KPPS) officers. They play a crucial role in overseeing the entire election process, from preparing activities at polling stations (TPS) to the ballot-counting process.

However, the heavy workload they carry comes with risks. KPPS officers face health issues due to fatigue. The report from Kompas on Wednesday (1/22/2020) is still vivid in our memories, citing 894 voting officers who passed away, and 5,175 officers who fell ill.

Three weeks after the 2019 General Election, the Monday edition of Tempo (05/13/2019) revealed the causes of death among KPPS officers. These included myocardial infarction, heart failure, hepatic coma, stroke, respiratory failure, hypertension, meningitis, sepsis, asthma, diabetes mellitus, kidney failure, tuberculosis, and multiorgan failure.

The challenges faced during the organization of the 2019 elections have raised concerns among this year's KPPS officers. Yusfina (21), a Management student from the Faculty of Economics and Business at Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta (UMS), is one of those expressing worry. “Obviously I have concerns,” she remarked.

Despite her concerns, Yusfina remains optimistic that she will be able to carry out the mandate given by the state. 

“Perhaps because I have frequently participated in activities on and off-campus, ranging from small to large events. So, I am confident that I can handle being a part of KPPS,” Yusfina continued optimistically.

She has implemented various strategies as preventive measures to tackle the challenging task ahead. “I've adjusted my habit of staying up late, incorporated more fruits into my diet, started taking vitamins, and maintained a healthy diet,” she added. “I also engage in occasional exercise like running or gymnastics to stay fit.”

Considering the incident faced during the 2019 elections, the General Election Commission (KPU) is taking precautions by ensuring that KPPS officers in 2024 undergo medical tests. This step aims to prevent previous incidents that took place during the 2019 Election.

The well-being of KPPS officers should be a top priority leading up to the 2024 elections to minimize the risk of officers falling ill. dr. Budi Hernawan, M.Sc., a lecturer in UMS Faculty of Medicine, highlights that the extended working hours pose a significant risk of fatigue for KPPS officers working at polling stations.

“Extended working hours will undoubtedly pose a risk of physical and mental fatigue. Fatigue can result in a weakened immune system, making the body more susceptible to infectious diseases, like the flu,” mentioned Budi on Thursday (18/1/2024).

So, what steps can be prepared by KPPS officers both before and during the election?

Budi advised KPPS officers to engage in light warm-up movements every one to two hours. He suggested that these movements would help prevent muscle pain during their work.

In addition to stretching, Budi suggests making special preparations as a preventive measure. Here are the tips:

• Stay mindful of your body condition. Budi emphasized to all KPPS officers. He urged them not to ignore any sudden or unpleasant feelings in their bodies. Instead, he advised them to promptly contact the health officer at the polling station for an immediate medical check.
• Incorporate regular exercise into your routine. By exercising regularly before your duty at the polling station, you can maintain your overall fitness, boosting your strength and immunity for the demanding tasks ahead. Do the exercise 3-5 times a week.
• Take vitamins if necessary. Vitamins can support the performance of organs in the body so that they can work optimally. 
• Be cautious of congenital diseases. Budi also stressed the importance for KPPS officers to be aware of any history of specific diseases, such as heart or respiratory conditions.

“For KPPS officers with specific diseases, they should assess their body condition to determine their capability. Additionally, if they have a history of certain diseases that require medication, they must routinely take their prescribed drugs,” he explained.

Besides considering medical history, Budi also highlighted health risks related to weather factors. This is crucial, especially as the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) predicts that the peak of the rainy season will occur in February 2024, coinciding with the election

“At least with the BMKG predictions, thorough preparations at the polling stations will significantly aid KPPS officers in maintaining their performance. This includes choosing locations that are not entirely open (with a roof and walls). Moreover, selecting appropriate clothing for KPPS based on the weather will also be highly beneficial,” said Budi.

Nur Lathifah Mardiyati, S.Gz., M.S., a lecturer in Nutrition Sciences, highlighted the crucial role of nutritional intake for KPPS officers. Recognizing that nutritional intake is vital for health and endurance, she emphasized that good nutrition also supports officers in maintaining excellent work stamina.

“This task certainly demands a high level of health and endurance, which should be prepared well before the task period begins,” Nur Lathifah mentioned when contacted via WhatsApp on Thursday (18/1/2024).

There are some tips for maintaining consumption patterns that Nur Lathifah suggests. Some of those tips are:

• Assess your nutritional status and overall health conditions. While this may sound daunting for some, understanding the body's condition allows us to take steps to optimize our overall well-being.
• Maintain regular meals. Plan a daily meal schedule to ensure consistent and balanced consumption. Include three main meals and between them, consider having 2-3 snacks.
• Consume main meals according to the Isi Piringku guideline. In one meal, consume staple foods (rice, noodles, vermicelli, bread, pasta, potatoes, etc.) as much as 1/3 of the plate as a source of carbohydrates. In addition, consume vegetables as much as 1/3 plate & fruits as much as 1/6 plate for vitamin, mineral, and fiber intake. Nur Lathifah emphasizes not to forget the consumption of high-quality protein sources such as eggs, fish, chicken, beef, tofu, tempeh, or milk to help increase muscle mass, cell regeneration, and strengthen endurance. Choose protein sources that are lower in fat by limiting the consumption of seafood, offal, or skin. Also avoid foods prepared with coconut milk or condensed milk and fried in a lot of oil.
• Ensure regular consumption of an adequate amount of water every day. Insufficient fluids or dehydration can lead to decreased concentration and endurance, causing quicker fatigue. If your urine is dark yellow or darker, it indicates dehydration. Don't wait until you're dehydrated to start drinking fluids.

In line with Budi, Nur Lathifah emphasizes the importance for KPPS officers to be aware of their body conditions.

“Know your body. Each person has a different body condition. You are the one who knows your body the best. Rest when your body needs rest,” She firmly stated.

Nur Lathifah expresses the hope that everyone will learn from the experiences of the 2019 elections, aiming for a smoother and healthier election without a repetition of similar incidents.

“Hopefully, such incidents won’t happen again. We wish for a smooth, honest, and fair election with results that can be trusted. The committee should also evaluate any shortcomings from previous implementations, ensuring that officers receive sufficient facilities, including rest time and proper food and drinks,” concluded Nur Lathifah.

Penulis: Gede Arga Adrian

Editor: Al Habiib Josy Asheva

Translator: Farizal Luqman Majid