On October 25th, the “United in Heart: Forging a Chinese Dream” 2024 Aba initiative kicked off in the Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture of Sichuan Province. More than 200 medical volunteers from 29 healthcare institutions in Beijing are heading to four counties: Rangtang, Hongyuan, Ruoergai, and Aba, to deliver essential medical services.
Located in the northwestern part of Sichuan, Aba Prefecture sits at the southeastern edge of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and has historically been a melting pot of multiple ethnic groups. As of the end of 2023, it boasts a population of nearly 900,000, with ethnic minorities such as Tibetans, Qiang, and Hui making up about 80% of the populace.
Since the National Day holiday this year, the organizing committee for the “United in Heart” initiative dispatched four teams to conduct on-the-ground research, gathering insights on the needs of local healthcare workers and residents. Collaborating closely with local governments and health authorities, they have developed a comprehensive health assistance plan.
This event, guided by the United Front Work Department of the CPC and hosted by the Beijing Tongxin Gongzu Public Welfare Foundation, aims to address prevalent and chronic health issues in the region through preventative measures, education, and skill development for local healthcare providers. Over the course of six days, volunteers will visit local hospitals, community health centers, elderly care homes, schools, and temples, offering free medical consultations, disease screenings, surgical treatments, home visits, charitable donations, and health education seminars.
Since its inception in 2008, the “United in Heart” initiative has mobilized over 32,000 medical experts from more than 1,000 hospitals nationwide. For the past 16 years, it has extended its health outreach efforts to Tibet and bordering ethnic regions across four provinces, providing valuable medical services to over 500,000 people from various ethnic backgrounds.