In the remote highlands of Sichuan Province, 24-year-old Tsering Chu has become a beacon of hope for her rural community. After graduating from vocational college earlier this year, she made the unconventional decision to return to Sawajiao Township as its newest village doctor — a choice driven by three deeply personal motivations.
“Our elders taught me that true wealth lies in community,” Tsering told KhabarAsia.com, explaining her first reason. The Tibetan native emphasized how traditional healing practices and modern medical knowledge could coexist to serve residents in this mountainous region.
Her second motivation stems from witnessing healthcare challenges firsthand. With only two medical stations serving 15 villages across 400 square kilometers, Tsering recognized the urgent need for local practitioners. “Preventive care can save lives here more than hospital treatments ever could," she noted, referencing common altitude-related health issues.
The final factor? A commitment to intergenerational knowledge preservation. “Young people often leave for cities, but who will maintain our medicinal herb gardens or deliver babies when roads are snowed in?” Tsering asked rhetorically. Her work now includes digitizing traditional remedies while training elderly residents in emergency first aid.
This year, provincial authorities reported a 15% increase in rural medical graduates returning to their hometowns, signaling a potential shift in China’s healthcare distribution strategies. For Sawajiao’s residents, Tsering’s choice represents both continuity and progress — one stethoscope at a time.
