DOCTORS at the pediatric emergency department of the Bao’an Maternity and Child Healthcare Hospital were surprised and touched when they received a free food delivery ordered by someone who didn’t leave his name Friday night, the Southern Metropolis Daily reported.

Porridge and fried bread sticks were delivered to these doctors at around 11 p.m. Friday. “Please give these to the doctors at the pediatric emergency department. They must be exhausted after so many babies got the flu lately. I ordered porridge and fried bread sticks for every doctor. Not sure if that’s enough,” read a note attached to the food package.

Huang Weidong, director of the pediatric department, took a picture of the note and posted it on his WeChat Moments. Huang said he felt warmth in the winter after receiving free food from a stranger, which motivated him and his colleagues to do their job better.

According to the hospital, its pediatric department receives 1,800 patients per day on average during flu season. There are 10 doctors on the dayshift and two doctors on nightshift. Each dayshift doctor has to treat 100 to 110 patients and each nightshift doctor has to treat 50 to 60 patients per day.

The shortage of pediatricians has raised widespread concern these days in China. Incomplete statistics show that there are 122,000 practicing pediatricians nationwide, meaning only 0.54 pediatrician is allocated for every 1,000 children. Meanwhile, there were 227 million children under the age of 14 in China by the end of 2015, and the country has about 16.8 million newborns each year.

According to previous reports, the turnover rate of pediatricians in 14 provinces nationwide was 11 percent over the past few years. Grassroots hospitals had the highest turnover rate at 32 percent. Among pediatricians below 35 years old, about 14 in every 100 quit the job. Those with lower job titles are less reluctant to leave their post.

(Zhang Yang)