On December 6, hosted by the Guangzhou Veterans Affairs Bureau, co-organized by the Guangzhou Volunteer Service Development Center, the Guangzhou Veterans Rights Protection Center, and the Guangzhou Veterans Service Center, the ceremony of "Gathering the Power of the Red Kapok and Contributing to the Heroes of Guangzhou" - "The Most Admirable Red kapok Veteran" campaign was launched with the co-organized by the Guangzhou Red Cotton Veterans Voluntary Servic Federation and the Guangzhou Volunteer Association.
"Recalling the vow over and over again is the eternal sacred response of veterans. Salute to the most Admirable red kapok veterans!" The 2023 "Most Admirable Kapok Veterans" list and promotional posters were announced during the event, with 10 awarded teams and 20 individuals mounted the rostrum and accepted awards. Among them, Prof. Niu Lizhi was awarded "The Most Admirable Red Kapok Veteran".
Niu Lizhi, member of CPC, chief physician, doctoral supervisor of Jinan University, president of Guangzhou Fuda Cancer Hospital, leader of the tumor treatment discipline, president of the International Society of Cryosurgery (ISC), and vice president of the Asian Society of Cryosurgery. He has been awarded "Tianhe District Innovation Leading Talent", "Doctor of Guangdong Province", "Guangzhou Model Worker", " Guangdong Province’s Outstanding Hospital President", and "Bethune-style Doctor".
As a retired soldier, the belief that "the ambition and the faith will not fade after retirement" has been deeply ingrained in Dr. Niu’s bones. In 2001, Niu, who had just retired from the military, bravely accepted the challenge and conducted the practice of cryosurgery technology at Guangzhou Fuda Cancer Hospital. Based on his solid theoretical foundation and rich clinical experience, he led the team to crack a number of difficult and complicated cases. From 4-year-old children to 94-year-old elderly people, from foreign health ministers, celebrities to ordinary people, all of them have achieved satisfactory results. Some patients have survived for 5 years, 10 years, 15 years, 20 years or even longer.
As a doctoral mentor, Prof. Niu continuously conduct theoretical summaries and academic research based on clinical practice. In November 2007, he honored the "World Cryotherapy Special Contribution Award"; in 2009, he won the President's Award at the 36th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society of Cryo Medical. He co-edited and published the monograph "Tumor Cryotherapy" with Professor Xu Kecheng, which won the "Outstanding Book" at the 16th International Cryotherapy Conference in 2011. The 2012 English version of " Modern Cryosurgery for Cancer" was published globally by World Scientific Press. In 2021, he participated in the research of "Establishment, Promotion and Application of Personalized Precision Diagnosis and Treatment System for Pancreatic Cancer" and won the first prize of the 3rd Guangdong Province Medical Science and Technology Award.
As hospital president, Prof. Niu is diligent and hard-working with high sense of responsibility. He has led a medical service team that integrates technology, scientific research, and caring. Niu once said: "As long as the people need me, I will be the front line to save lives even at the age of seventy." Although he has taken off his military uniform, what remains unchanged is the responsibility and perseverance of a soldier. He will do whatever he can to better serve his patients through out these years. To be a part of the Red Kapok Veterans Volunteer, he set up an emergency medical team and leveraged professional advantages to fulfill the mission of "saving lives and caring for the wounded". Volunteers travel through cities and villages, covering Guangzhou, Qingyuan and other areas, carrying out projects such as free clinic, physical examinations, medical diagnosis, psychological consultation, etc.
In every consultation, he is always good at interacting and communicating effectively with patients, shaking hands, chatting with them more, so that they can feel the care and relax. He believes that every time during volunteer service, he can meet all kinds of people, experience and learn new things. Only that can he deeply understand the importance of responsibility and the value of dedication and happiness. At the same time, during the free clinic, he can provide patients with high-quality medical services, strengthen the publicity of health and medical knowledge, and let them feel the care of the society.
Honored the title of "The Most Admirable Red Kapok Veteran" is both affirmation and encouragement for Dr. Niu. He hopes that the spirit of Red Kapok can influence more people around him and be passed down from generation to generation. "Power of individual might be small, together we can make our society a better place."