When we think about China, we often visualise well-dressed healthy people walking in brightly lit streets, Beijing’s historical sites with modern architecture and skyscraper-studded Shanghai. But the story of this 24-year-old Chinese woman will highlight the grave reality that China is struggling with.
Wu Huayan, the young student from China was hospitalised earlier this month after she complained of breathing problem. The doctors later diagnosed her with a heart and kidney disorder associated with low intake of nutritious food. Wu Huayan who was only 135cm (4ft 5ins) tall and weighed barely more than 20kg was apparently on rice and chilly diet, trying to save any money that she had for her younger brother ailing from a mental illness. She has been severely malnutrition, reported BBC.
After they lost their parents at an early age, the siblings from China’s Guizhou were supported by their grandmother, and later by an uncle and aunt who could give them $42 (Rs. 2,900 each) every month. Since the past five years, Wu Huayan has been eating minimal amounts of food to save money for her education and to support her sick brother. Wu Huayan barely spends $0.30 (Rs 21) a day and consumes mostly rice and chillies.
But after their heartbreaking story made headlines, scores of people came in to support them. Within a couple of weeks, donations started pouring in totalling to some $114,000 (Rs. 80.8 lakhs approx.) from various crowdfunding platforms and her well-wishers alike.
If you were listening, an update on this story:
After the shocking circumstances of Wu Huayan came to light, she has received 470,000 yuan in donations ($66,800).
Ms Wu is 24 and weighs 47kg. She'd lived off 30 cents a day for 5 years to support her ill brother. pic.twitter.com/EZxcrJa0O2
— Kerry Allen 凯丽 (@kerrya11en) October 31, 2019
Following the massive outrage pointing fingers at the Chinese authorities and the college management for not supporting the kids, the Chinese officials released a statement claiming, ‘Wu Huayan had started to receive the minimum subsidy of 300-700 yuan (Rs 3000-7000) from the government. She would also be receiving the emergency relief fund of 20,000 yuan (about Rs 2 lakh) a year,’ reported News18.
The Tongren City Civil Affairs Bureau said to BBC, “We will keep following the case of this strong-minded and kind girl. We will actively co-operate with other relevant departments to solve the problem according to the minimum living standard and temporary assistance responsibility that the civil affairs department bears.” Apart from the public donations, her teachers and classmates also donated 40,000 yuan ( Rs. 4 lakh approx.) while local villagers collected 30,000 yuan(Rs. 3 lakhs approx.) to help her.
This is not the first reported case. Earlier an eight-year-old Chinese boy who arrived at school with swollen hands, frost on his hair and eyebrows had sparked debate about poverty struck China. On one side, China recently celebrated its 70th anniversary of the Communist rule with much pomp and enthusiasm and on the other people like Wu Huayan struggle to get a two-course meal. What an irony!