Doctor safeguards village in Southwest China for 55 years

Suo Mugun, a 74-year-old rural doctor, has been serving villagers in his hometown for more than 55 years in Rangtang county of Aba Tibet and Qiang autonomous prefecture in Southwest China's Sichuan province.

Suo was born in Siyuewu village in Puxi township and started to work as the only doctor in his hometown in 1966. He joined at the most grassroots level, silently giving and tending to the health of villagers and herdsmen.

In over half a century, Suo, a member of the Communist Party of China, has saved numerous people and earned the respect and gratitude from people around him.

Due to the difficult terrain, Suo climbed mountains and plateaus on foot for years, often carrying patients on his back. As a result, his knees suffered from serious problems and he eventually had to rely on a walking stick.

However, that did not discourage him from fulfilling his duties.

When muddy trails were renovated into concrete roads, Suo learned how to ride a motorcycle so he could respond to medical emergencies faster, but he has fallen to the ground so many times he's lost count.