Dedication in the Mountains: A Family’s 51-Year Commitment to Rural Healthcare

Chongqing - On August 19, as China celebrates Medical Workers' Day, the spotlight turns to the 334,700 healthcare professionals in Chongqing. Among them are those who serve in remote mountainous areas, providing essential medical care to rural communities.

At 10:00 a.m. on August 16, Li Xingyan, a 44-year-old village doctor in Zhangping Village, Wushan County, received a call from a distressed villager. Her husband’s hypertension had flared up, rendering him unable to get out of bed. Li informed his father, Li Congjie, before rushing to attend to the patient.

Li Congjie, 68, has been a village doctor for 51 years. Although retired, he was rehired in 2016 and now works alongside his son. Watching his son ride off, Li Congjie felt a deep sense of trust.

Lifetime of service

Li Congjie began his medical journey at 17, apprenticing under a barefoot doctor. Over the years, he’s worn out three motorcycles traveling between villages.

Later that morning, another familiar face appeared at the clinic. Wu Yunchun, a former village resident, brought her 5-year-old son to see Li Congjie. The boy had a stomach ache, and Li treated him with a local remedy, quickly relieving his pain. Villagers gathered in the clinic praised his reliable treatments.

Li Congjie reflected on his career, recalling how an early experience saving a child from heatstroke made him realize the importance of his work. Back then, the village had no roads or electricity, and he often made house calls by torchlight, walking for hours. Over time, as infrastructure improved, he learned to ride a motorcycle, greatly expanding his reach. “I’ve traveled over 200,000 kilometers,” he said with a smile.

A new generation takes over

Li Xingyan’s path to village medicine wasn’t straightforward. In 2018, Li Congjie had a serious motorcycle accident while making house calls. Despite a fractured hip, he completed his rounds before seeking medical help. This incident prompted his son to consider taking over his father’s role.

At the time, Li Xingyan earned a good salary as a quality engineer in Guangdong. However, the need to care for his aging parents led him to return home. After a year of training under his father, he passed the rural doctor certification exam in 2019.

“Dr. Li is as dedicated as his father,” said Yang Xishou, a 70-year-old villager who often seeks medical care from the family. “When I felt dizzy one night, I called Dr. Li, and he was here in no time.”

Advancing rural healthcare

Today, the Zhangping Village Clinic is a standardized facility with modern equipment. In April, Wushan County launched the “Mobile Hospital” initiative, equipping 100 villages’ doctors with portable diagnostic kits that allow for various tests, with results instantly uploaded to higher-level hospitals.

“Now we have reliable tools at our disposal,” said Li Xingyan, who is committed to carrying on his father’s work. Li Congjie plans to pass down his knowledge of traditional tung-oil massage, ensuring this skill remains in the community.

Reflecting on his father’s dedication, Li Xingyan said, “I used not to understand why my father was seldom at home. Now I know—it was because he was responsible for the health of our villagers.”

As Li Xingyan heads out again under the scorching sun, his determination mirrors his father’s lifelong commitment to their community.

(The Chinese version of this report was contributed by Li Zhifeng and Yin Shiyu, reporters from Chongqing Daily, and Li Yifei, Peng Yu, interns from Chongqing Daily.)