China’s approach to epidemic prevention has been implemented at every level of society, but there has been little media coverage of the efforts by rural communities and those of all ages who volunteer therein.
That changed yesterday with the publication by Civilised Nanjing of an account of volunteer service spanning eight decades in rural areas across many districts of Nanjing.
Rural Nanjing’s 1930s-Generation Volunteers
Yanhesan Village in Jianye has a Branch Party Secretary in 80-plus-year-old Shao Ruiyun. She works tirelessly with other secretaries in completing their duties that include dealing with uncooperative residents, dissuading other elderly people from their board games and ensuring that the various prevention and control requirements are implemented.
Volunteer Chen Weiwei commented on Shao, saying, “A lot of volunteers choose the 9am-12 duty time slot and leave it at that. But Shao is moved and encouraged to help other branches stand guard after finishing her own area every day”.
Rural Nanjing’s 1940s-Generation Volunteers
Huang Zhaohai is a retired military doctor born in 1949. An active member of the community volunteer team, Huang helps provide free diagnosis and treatment services for residents of their open community in Nanjing’s Qinhuai District. He used his professional expertise to publicise epidemic prevention and control information in a WeChat group, while at the same time, assisted in measuring the temperature of people entering and leaving the community, asking from where they came, etc. To date, Huang has provided out-patient consultations for more than 50 people, and clocked in and out nearly 3,000 people.
He said, “The uniform might be gone, but the responsibility remains the same. It is my honour to do something for the community”.
Rural Nanjing’s 1950s-Generation Volunteers
In front of a simple tent, 66-year-old Zhan Chunlan solemnly swore in front of the bright red Party flag outside Xincun Community of Xiaoshi Subdistrict in Gulou. “I volunteer to join the Communist Party of China, support the Party’s program, abide by the Party’s charter, and fulfill the obligations of Party Members. …”
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With the outbreak of the epidemic, Zhan did not hesitate, volunteering to rush to the forefront of epidemic prevention. For more than 10 consecutive days, she was busy every day from 9 am to midnight, not once complaining. “My husband and son are also Party Members. During this time, I saw Party Members in the community taking the lead. I thought, I would follow them and learn from them. I firmly believe that under the leadership of the Party, we will definitely conquer the epidemic”, she said.
Rural Nanjing’s 1960s-Generation Volunteers
Tang Dezhen is a warm-hearted auntie who loves a good recital. She is also a member of the Guli Subdistrict Volunteer Service Brigade in Jiangning.
As such, Tang’s epidemic prevention work was to coordinate with her son the transportation of masks and thermometers received from the USA to rural areas. Making good use of her hobby, Tang also participated in the dubbing of the epidemic-prevention poem, “Expel the Demonic Pestilence” (送瘟神), turning her strength into action.
Rural Nanjing’s 1970s-Generation Volunteers
Out in Jiangbei New Area in Pukou, Xinzhuang Rufang was eating New Year’s Eve dinner with her family when the phone rang. Despite being hospitalised in December, Xinzhuang got straight back to work. Born in 1975 and a resident of Yangzi No.1 Community in Dachang, Xinzhuang’s daily duties included propaganda, coordinated information registration, emergency duty roster and closed community security management. In the evening, she was responsible for coordinating personnel at various checkpoints and bringing volunteers up to speed.
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With her partner recently fighting on the epidemic’s front line and a daughter only in grade 5, the couple is often too busy to cook their meals. She said, “This is my job, my job, no matter how hard it is”.
Rural Nanjing’s 1980s-Generation Volunteers
In Nanjing Yuhua Economic Development Zone, there are many elderly in Tianbao Community who have struggled to look after themselves during the Covid-19 outbreak. Pan Shufang, Deputy Director of the Community Neighbourhood Committee, coordinated volunteers who would each day bring daily necessities, food and supplies to the elderly, while also acting as psychological counsellors. Pan told the story of an old man in the village who is blind. His daughter went to Wuhan to celebrate the holiday and could not return to Nanjing. The volunteers acted as relatives and managed the old man’s meals three times a day. They also did housework, cut his hair and chatted with him.
But Pan’s son was soon hospitalised, and his superior immediately released him from epidemic duties. Pan said, “My son saw me absent-minded, and took the initiative to get me back to the front line. He said that it is up to me to do well, that my job is to contribute to the fight against the epidemic”.
Rural Nanjing’s 1990s-Generation Volunteers
Two epidemic prevention and logistic volunteers in Gaochun have come up with an effective on-the-spot approach to the scarred ear tissue that results from the extended wearing of face masks.
Feng Xuehong and Ge Minmin of Fengjing Village had the bright idea of using paper clips to attach the ear straps of a mask together. “We can string the paper clips together and adjust the number of paper clips according to the circumference of the head”, proposed Ge. In trials of volunteers, everyone gave the thumbs up. “The two girls are really good. They have done a good job in logistical support. Wearing these masks we can think more comprehensively. We have no worries about fighting the epidemic!”, said one older volunteer.
Rural Nanjing’s 2000s-Generation Volunteers
Sun Di is a college student from Fubin Community in Lishui. Her contribution to epidemic prevention and control is to arrange registration and inspection at check points every day, to hang banners and posters, issue letters to homes and publicise information on Covid-19 prevention. She also actively provides homes with daily necessities.
She said, “I was born during SARS in 2003 and my uncle and aunt looked after me. Now that I’m grown up, it’s my turn. I know what this epidemic means, and I hope I can play my part. Let’s work together to overcome it as soon as possible!”
