'Warrior in white': Ethnic Kazakh doctor receives China's highest Party honor

Tengrinews.kz – Ethnic Kazakh physician Ukhas Suleimen has been awarded the July 1 Medal, the highest honor bestowed by the Communist Party of China. The award ceremony was attended by Chinese President Xi Jinping, Tengri Life reports.

Suleimen received the medal during a ceremony marking the 105th anniversary of the Communist Party of China.

According to Chinese media, he is the first ethnic Kazakh to receive the July 1 Medal.

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Nearly 50 years in medicine

Suleimen began his medical career in 1975 after graduating from medical college. He spent decades working in China's healthcare system, serving as deputy chief physician in the internal medicine department of a hospital in Shawushek, Tarbagatay Prefecture, in China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.

Despite having the opportunity to work in a city, the young doctor chose to serve in remote pastoral communities. For decades, he traveled on horseback to reach patients, crossing mountain trails, rivers, and snow-covered terrain in all weather conditions. On one occasion, during a severe snowstorm, he walked several kilometers through deep snow to deliver a baby and save the life of a pregnant woman.

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More than 100,000 patients

Over the course of his career, Suleimen traveled more than 200,000 kilometers to provide medical care to residents of remote villages. He treated more than 100,000 patients and helped deliver over 3,200 babies.

Local herders affectionately nicknamed him the "warrior in white on horseback".

Continued serving after retirement

Even after retiring in 2015, Suleimen remained committed to medicine. He opened his own health clinic, continued treating local residents free of charge, and launched a volunteer initiative providing medical assistance to people living in remote areas.

Xinhua News

About the July 1 Medal

Throughout his career, Suleimen has received numerous state honors in China. The July 1 Medal is the Communist Party of China's highest distinction, awarded to Party members who have made outstanding contributions to the country's development, society, and public welfare.

His story has drawn widespread attention on social media, where users have congratulated the doctor and praised his lifelong dedication to serving others.