Regardless of the weather, Li Shaoyou, a 56-year-old retired physician, rows a boat every day to his patients’ home in Mudundao Village of Bancheng Township, Sihong County, Jiangsu Province.
As the only doctor on the island, Li has provided medical services to the islanders for 32 years since his retired from the People’s Liberation Army in 1986, news portal ThePaper reported.
Mudundao Village is located on a small island surrounded by lakes. It’s a place where health care is still underdeveloped.
The villagers used to spend a long time going to the town for medical services, even for the common cold or headaches, for there was no doctor on the island. But for the past three decades, the villagers have always turned to Li first when suffering illness.
Li is actually the village’s fourth doctor. The former three doctors just stayed for a short time, because of the adverse working conditions.
Giving up comfortable living conditions and time with family members, Li values his work and thinks that what he is doing is meaningful, that is, making sure you’re not absent when a group of people need you.
Li and many other medical practitioners like him are active in China’s rural areas, carrying forward the humanitarian spirit under adverse working conditions.