Protecting island people

When the coronavirus struck the country during last year's Spring Festival, Wei called-off her holiday with her family as she had done many times in the past when she was needed as a medical worker.

From January to March last year, she took the temperatures of people entering the island and collected throat and nose swabs from potential coronavirus carriers for testing.

Wei seems shy and not very talkative. But when it comes to work, she is tough. Wearing a multilayered protective suit, protective glassed and carrying 10 kilograms of disinfectant on her back was Wei's daily look during the epidemic control work last year. She bore the responsibility with a strong mind and body.

"I was not able to spend much time with my family in past years, and I feel in debt to my son," Wei said. Now, her son, who is 23, is working in the Changle district of Fuzhou, the provincial capital, about 110 miles from Putian.

"I retired in March last year, but the health center needed me and asked me to come back," Wei said. "So I'm back to work. I will continue work as long as I am needed."

In 2018, Wei was honored as a Model Worker of Fujian. In November, she was honored as a National Model Worker by the All-China Federation of Trade Unions. On Nov 24, she received the honor at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

Looking ahead to that day, she said: "This will be my first time entering the Great Hall, and I'm really excited."

The people she has served over many decades would be glad to hear it.

Hu Meidong in Fuzhou contributed to this story.