People in the Ningxia Hui autonomous region gathered on Wednesday to pay tribute to the body and organ donors. [Photo by Feng Xiaoyun and Yang Jiamei/For chinadaily.com.cn]

People in the Ningxia Hui autonomous region gathered to pay tribute to organ and body donors at a regional memorial park on Wednesday.

During the activity, called Meaning of Life, people bid farewell to an 8-year-old girl whose parents had donated her corneas.

"We'd like to help those who are in need to see the world, which is also another way for our daughter to continue her life," the girl's father said.

"The little girl is so great," said Qiao Xinmin, 63, unable to hold back his tears. "Donating my body is the last thing I can do for our country."

Qiao has been volunteering in the body and organ donation field for nearly two decades.

People in the Ningxia Hui autonomous region gathered on Wednesday to pay tribute to the body and organ donors. [Photo by Feng Xiaoyun and Yang Jiamei/For chinadaily.com.cn]

People's Hospital of the Ningxia Hui autonomous region donated 100,000 yuan ($15,750) to the Ningxia branch of the Red Cross Society of China. The money will be used to develop a body and organ donation program in the region and to care for the families of donors.

Ningxia officially started organ donation work in 2015. To date, the region has founded a memorial park, workstations, education centers and volunteer teams to promote donations.

Regulations on cornea donation in Ningxia were released in 2020, clarifying procedures for registration, reception and management.

People in the Ningxia Hui autonomous region gathered on Wednesday to pay tribute to the body and organ donors. [Photo by Feng Xiaoyun and Yang Jiamei/For chinadaily.com.cn]

Last year, 6,727 people volunteered for organ donation, bringing the total number to 22,342. Another 2,984 people volunteered to donate their bodies last year.

"Ningxia holds activities every year to commemorate body and organ donors and express thanks to them, and in this way to get society to pay attention," said Tao Jun, director of the regional organ donation center.

"The current donation level is far short of demand in Ningxia," Tao added.