Xin Ping visits a resident's home to provide health medical care. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Over the past three decades, village clinic doctor Xin Ping has stuck to his post, serving more than 500 residents in the villages of Xiazhuanghe and Fengcaiyuan in Shilou county of Lyuliang, Shanxi province.

Born in Xiazhuanghe, Xin returned after graduation from a medical school in Shilou in 1994. From then on, he never gave up his original inspiration — protecting the health of his fellow villagers.

Besides receiving patients at the clinic in Xiazhuanghe, the 51-year-old doctor often walks out to provide medical services to people in their homes and has embraced online medicine. He offers guidance via phone and WeChat groups, answering up to 46 calls a day and sending medicine to 83 patients.

"A large number of residents in the two villages, which are located in mountain areas, are left-behind seniors," he said. "Whenever I receive their calls for help, I immediately head for their homes carrying my medical box."

Xin Ping visits a resident's home to provide health medical care. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Before Spring Festival, villagers were catching COVID-19 in succession, including Xin and his family members. Despite developing symptoms that included high fever, fatigue and body aches, Xin continued to answer his patients' calls and sometimes sent medicine to their homes.

In recent years, Xin has kept up his medical knowledge via books and practice to develop suitable patterns for rural health services.

"In recent years, with the promotion of integrated management of rural health services, the operation of our clinic has become more standardized," he said. "We have upgraded medical equipment, and I have great confidence about providing better services to my villagers."