Medical workers put on protective suits at a "Falcon" air-inflated testing lab for COVID-19 nucleic acid testing at Yangzhou International Exhibition Center in Yangzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province, Aug. 14, 2021.(Photo: Xinhua)

On Thursday, which marks the celebration of China’s Medical Workers’ Day, five Chinese doctors, including top epidemiologist Li Lanjuan, shared their understanding of the spirit of medical workers to respond the call of a new era. They also sent their good wishes to over 11 million Chinese health care workers through a video. 

What is the spirit of medical workers of the time? Are medical staff occupied working tirelessly in sickrooms like intrepid fighters in the frontline of the COVID-19 pandemic, or are they the daughters and sons, mothers and fathers who always put patients first leaving little time for their families?

The five Chinese doctors believe persistence, braveness, innovation and benevolence represent the spirit of medical workers, according to the video circulating on social media.

According to the video, Li Lanjuan, renowned epidemiologist and hepatologist, has been working on the frontline for 53 years and insists on continuing her mission with new medical procedures at the age of 74. Tao Yong, a promising ophthalmologist who does not conduct operations anymore, chose to forgive the person who stabbed his head, neck and arms, and dedicated himself to the study diseases and their cure through scientific technologies. 

As a doctor of traditional Chinese medicine, Xie Like studies medicine and gets inspiration from an innovative combination of Western and Chinese medicine. Gynecologist Zhang Yu writes books and blogs on Sina Weibo – China’s Twitter-like social media platform, – to guide, comfort and give recommendations to women with health problems. Doctor Xu Siying left the hospital she worked for after ten years and started to provide online diagnosis and treatment. She believes the internet does not change the essence of doctors’ work, as long as they show kindness, Xu said in the video.

This year marks the fourth celebration since its establishment in 2017 when the Chinese government approved the proposal to set August 19 as China’s Medical Workers' Day to express national concern and support for medical and health care workers.

On this very special day, health care workers are still working around the clock and some of them are fighting the coronavirus at the frontline in Yangzhou, Zhengzhou and Zhangjiajie which have been hit hard by the latest COVID-19 outbreak. 

The topic “tribute to medical workers on their day” has been viewed more than 220 million times on Sina Weibo as Thursday evening.

Netizens paid the highest salute and sent best wishes to all medical and health care workers: the adorable angels in white! Medical workers have, without a doubt, fulfilled the promise of devoting to provide health care, healing the wounded and rescuing the dying, said many netizens.