Health center protects people in rural areas

TIANJIN — Recently, the health center in Chuanfangyu township has seen villagers trickling in daily, about one-third of whom are suffering from respiratory illnesses.

The health center, located in the Jizhou district of North China's Tianjin municipality, is one of the vital grassroots medical institutions that provide tiered, timely, and convenient medical services to patients in the country's vast rural areas.

Guo Yanli had COVID-19 for about 12 days.

"I had a cough and a little pain in my chest when I breathed. I bought some cough remedies here, and it took effect in about three days," the villager says.

"I'm almost good now."

Guo says that she also checked her lungs at the health center. The results showed them to be clear.

Villager Lyu Shuangshuang visited the health center recently for cough medication.

Lyu says her family have all been infected with COVID-19, but recovered after taking anti-pyretics, cold medicine, and antiviral medicine.

"Our drug reserves are sufficient to ensure the needs of patients in the area," says Sun Hongsheng, a physician at the health center.

Sun adds that the center also provides traditional Chinese medicines for patients and infected medical staff.

Liu Hongliang, head of the health center, says that there was a small increase in the number of COVID-19 patients in mid-to-late December, but the figure began to fall at the end of December. Most of them were mild cases.

Chuanfangyu township has a population of more than 12,000.Besides the town's health center, village clinics also protect rural residents' health.

"The medication supply was tight at the beginning," Liu says.

"Thanks to the help of the local health commission and pharmaceutical companies, we have increased our stockpile," Liu adds.

Unlike the rapid rise in the number of people infected in big cities, the infection rate among villagers in the town was significantly lower, Liu says.

He adds that rural residents are scattered, and their awareness of self-protection has improved.

Apart from outpatient services, doctors in the health center also make house calls.

During a recent home visit, Liu found that Li Zeng, an 81-year-old villager, was not in good spirits, with a severe cough and respiratory symptoms. He was later admitted to the health center.

"My father is old, and big hospitals are far away. Therefore, we chose the small health center since we are familiar with the doctors," says Li Zeng's daughter Li Haiyan.

"It is convenient and near our home, and the medical facilities are good here."

The village clinic of Daxin, under the jurisdiction of Chuanfangyu township, provides medical services for two nearby villages with more than 2,000 residents.

"The number of COVID-19 patients is declining, and the medicine we have has, so far, been sufficient," says Liu Huaichen, a doctor at the clinic.

"Our country has made a great effort and done a good job in COVID-19 prevention over the past few years.

"Rural residents also attach great importance to protection measures," he adds.

Xinhua