‘Punchbag’ father’s devotion strikes a chord
Print Edition
A CHINESE man who stood outside a busy Beijing subway station offering to act as a “human punchbag” in order to raise money to cover his son’s medical fees has won widespread public sympathy and caused many people to reflect on the country’s welfare system.
In late November, Xia Jun, from Nanchong City, southwest China’s Sichuan Province, decided to ask for donations in Beijing to meet huge medical charges needed to treat his son, known as “Haohao,” who has leukemia. The 31-year-old had sold his property in Nanchong but still failed to have enough money to cover his son’s chemotherapy.
A picture of Xia standing in front of a collection box and two photographs of his 2-year-old, chubby-cheeked son was posted on Sina Weibo microblog last week. Xia is seen standing in front of Guomao station, one of Beijing’s busiest, as commuters pass by. On his white T-shirt is the message: “Human punchbag: 10 yuan (US$1.62) per punch.”
In an increasingly well-off society, with improving social welfare, Xia’s appeal touched and pained many, prompting offers of help on the Internet.
“It made me cry. This is truly a father’s love,” read one Weibo comment.
“What’s his bank card number? I would like to help,” commented another.
Xia, whose son is being treated in a Beijing hospital, said that in planning his appeal he was prepared for the worst-case scenario: being hit by passersby and looking for another way to raise money. But he was undaunted.
“My baby’s life is more important than my dignity,” Xia said in an interview with China Central Television.
However, Xia says the only “punches” he has received are from people coming over to pat him on the shoulder and urging him to stay strong.
As more and more members of the public came forward to offer cash, donations eventually exceeded 680,000 yuan. Xia has since urged the public to stop donating, as he now has enough to support Haohao’s medical treatment.
Despite the impressive generosity shown by members of the public, many questioned China’s basic social assistance system, which is still flawed in handling cases like Xia’s.
Xia said that even though a medical insurance system has been set up, about half of his son’s leukemia expenses cannot be reimbursed because “there are so many restrictions.”
According to a report by the Red Cross Society of China, actual reimbursement for major illness in China is limited. Meanwhile, an uneven distribution of resources forces many patients to seek medical help in bigger cities, further complicating reimbursement procedures.
Le Zhang, a professor with Zhongnan University of Economics and Law, said the government needs to further lift restrictions for reimbursements so patients can enjoy more benefits.
Non-government organizations should ramp up their efforts in China’s social assistance system, said Luo Jiaojiang, head of the Institute of Social Development Studies under Wuhan University.
The State Council, China’s Cabinet, has demanded governments at local levels establish a temporary assistance mechanism by the end of the year.
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