Voices from Women Role Models in Fight Against COVID-19

A meeting to commend role models in China's fight against the COVID-19 epidemic was held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on September 8. A total of 1,499 individuals and 500 groups across the country were commended for their outstanding contributions in fighting the epidemic.

Anti-epidemic fighters — including medical workers, scientific researchers and community workers — have received the country's most solemn praises, and their deeds demonstrate the great anti-COVID-19 combat spirit. Let's pay tribute to them and listen to the voices from the bottom of their hearts.

'Passing on Anti-Epidemic Spirit to Next Generation'

From the beginning of the epidemic outbreak, Peng Yinhua, a doctor from the First People's Hospital of Jiangxia District, Wuhan City, the city hit hardest by the epidemic at the time, had fought on the front line of the anti-virus battle and spared no effort to save patients. He was infected with the virus and died on February 20.

"Although Peng left me, he is always in my heart. Our baby was born on June 1, and I received much 
sincere concern and kind help. When the child grows up, I will tell her about her father's deeds, passing his anti-epidemic spirit and strength on to the next generation," said Peng's wife Zhong Xin. 

'Staying True to Original Aspiration to the End'

"I was lucky to have the chance to attend the national commendation conference for role models in the anti-COVID-19 battle in Beijing and to listen to General Secretary Xi's speech," said Yang Huili, deputy director of the nursing department of the People's Hospital of Xinjian District in Nanchang, capital city of East China's Jiangxi Province.

Yang said she felt full affirmation and ardent expectations for anti-epidemic workers from the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, and the commendation was the biggest honor in her life so far.

"In my mind, only by staying true to the original aspiration and keeping serious can we live up to the anticipations for us," Yang added.

'Continue to Serve Patients Steadfastly'

"I am excited to participate in this commendation. This dignified honor is not only for me, but also serves as recognition and encouragement for all the medical workers. As an ordinary nurse, I will continue to serve patients steadfastly and fulfill my duties as a medical worker in the future,"said Yu Honglian, deputy head nurse and vice-chief superintendent nurse of the urinary surgery of the No. 2 Hospital of Baoding City, North China's Hebei Province.

'Keep on Promoting Great Anti-Epidemic Spirit'

Ren Rui, a nurse-in-charge from Yulin No. 2 Hospital in Yulin City, Northwest China's Shaanxi Province, said she was privileged to receive this extraordinary honor. 

"At the beginning of the epidemic, almost all the hospitals encountered the challenges arising from a lack of medical workers, beds and other medical supplies. However, with strong capabilities of social mobilization and coordination, our country has overcome many difficulties to curb the spread of the virus," Ren said.

She added that she will keep in mind the instructions of General Secretary Xi Jinping, keep on promoting the great anti-epidemic spirit, and devote herself to the medical work and health care.

'Serving People with Meticulous Care'

"I felt honored to participate in the commendation event and I was grateful to the CPC Central Committee for giving us such an honor. It will always stimulate my work," said Tang Shu, secretary of the general Party branch of Xincheng Community in Yueyanglou District, Yueyang City, Central China's Hunan Province.

"As a community worker, I should put the residents' difficulties in first place, and serve the people with meticulous care," she said, adding that she will continue to promote resuming work and production, and boost economic development based on regular epidemic prevention measures.

'People First, Life First'

"This honor belongs to all the medical team members who have fought side by side with me and also our great nation," said Liu Yun, vice-president of Jiangsu Province Hospital and leader of the hospital's intensive care medical team to support Wuhan City, the city hit hardest by the epidemic at the time.

According to her, the victory of the hard anti-virus battle fully reflects the superiority of China's socialist system and the CPC's outstanding governance capabilities under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at the core. 

"After this commendation meeting, I will continue to stay true to my original aspiration, bear my mission in mind, not rest on the previous achievements, and look forward to the future. Keeping the principles of 'people first' and 'life first' in mind, I will strive for China's medical cause and national rejuvenation," Liu vowed.

'Fulfilling Duty for People, Community Work'

"I participated in the national commendation meeting and listened to the important speech of General Secretary Xi with excitement," said Wang Yuebo, secretary of the general Party branch and President of the Women's Federation of Binhe Community in Beijing's Pinggu District.

As head of a community's Party organization, Wang said she will continue to fulfill her responsibility for epidemic prevention, and lead CPC members and residents to implement regular epidemic control measures. 

"Meanwhile, we will give full play to the role of grassroots Party organization in the process of community governance, fulfilling the duty for the people and community work," Wang stated.

'Fulfilling Doctor's Sense of Mission and Responsibility'

"The medical workers in our hospital united and spared no efforts to save many patients by giving full play to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), under the leadership of the CPC Central Committee and the coordination and deployment of the hospital's leaders," said Lu Dingbo, director of the infection division of the Hubei Provincial Hospital of TCM in Wuhan City, the city hit hardest by the epidemic at the time.

Lu said she and her companions felt a sense of accomplishment, and she will continue to fulfill a doctor's sense of mission and responsibility.

'Carrying Forward Volunteers' Enthusiasm and Love'

"It was an honor to receive the title and be able to listen to General Secretary Xi's speech, for I just did my part within my power. For me, this award symbolizes responsibility and mission," said Hu Fang, director of a voluntary organization in Jinhua City, East China's Zhejiang Province.

Hu said she will lead her team to carry forward volunteers' enthusiasm and love, speed up the construction of the city's eye bank and blood donation station, and organize more activities to publicize first-aid measures.

'Upholding the Original Aspiration of Serving People with Heart and Soul'

"I am grateful for receiving the prize, and felt excited as I listened to General Secretary Xi's speech. Nanhu District's achievements in the anti-COVID-19 fight can be attributed to all the efforts made by CPC members, volunteers and residents. It was a demonstration of the voluntary spirit," said Yu Jian, secretary of the Party committee of Nanhu Community in Nan'an District of Southwest China's Chongqing Municipality.

Yu vowed to uphold her original aspiration of serving people with heart and soul, and continue to lead CPC members and women in the community to build a beautiful community.

'Undertaking Social Responsibility of CPC Member and Entrepreneur'

"The volutionary tradition is deeply rooted in my mind. In my childhood, I listened to many stories of revolutionary fighters in Chinese history. When I grew up, I joined the CPC and tried to become an outstanding CPC member," said Liu Xian, owner of a boxed meal restaurant chain in Chengdu, capital city of Southwest China's Sichuan Province, who provided food for frontline medics in Wuhan City, the city hit hardest by the epidemic amid the COVID-19 outbreak.

"As a CPC member and also an entrepreneur, I should undertake social responsibility to contribute my own strength," Liu added.

'Demonstrating My Belief in Medicine with My Life'

"As CPC members, my colleagues and I gave priority to the interests of the State and the people," said Zhang Ping, director of pulmonary and critical care medicine of Dongguan People's Hospital in Dongguan City, South China's Guangdong Province.

"We showed up wherever we were needed. In the face of the COVID-19 outbreak, we put aside our own well-being for the good of patients, and rushed to the front line immediately, demonstrating our beliefs in medicine with our lives. This honor belongs to all of our team members," Zhang noted.

'Keeping People's Life and Health in Mind'

"It was the duty of a community's Party secretary to play the role of a guard. Actually, the initial victory of the anti-COVID-19 battle can't be divorced from lots of community workers across the country who stuck to their posts and dedicated themselves as they were needed," said Tang Ying, secretary of the Party committee of Cuizhulu Community in Xiangshan District, Guilin City, South China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

"The honor is more like a motivation. From now on, I will continue to concentrate on community work and better serve the people with heart and soul," Tang added.

'Demonstrating Medical Workers' Benevolence with Actual Deeds'

"As a medical worker, I was greatly inspired by General Secretary Xi's speech at the meeting. We are supposed to be loyal guards of our people, race against time on the front line of the fight against the epidemic to ensure people's lives and health, and to demonstrate medical workers' benevolence and selflessness with actual deeds," said Hao Hui, deputy head of the first-aid station of the emergency center under the Urumqi Diwopu International Airport in Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

'Focusing on People's Life, Health'

"I feel honored to receive the title of outstanding individual in China's fight against COVID-19 epidemic. This award belongs to all the members of the fourth group of the medical team from Northwest China's Gansu Province to support Hubei and the children's emergency center of the Gansu Provincial Maternal and Childcare Hospital. It is a recognition of our work," said An Caixia, deputy director of the emergency center of the Gansu Provincial Maternity and Childcare Hospital in Lanzhou City, Gansu Province.

"I will take it as an impetus to further promote loyalty and sense of responsibility, focus on people's health and life, and make greater contributions to protecting children's physical and mental health," An added.

(Source: China Women's News/Translated and edited by Women of China)