Fertility support brings smiles to families

In the heart of Hainan province, a wall of photos captures the beginning of countless lives and the unwavering dedication of a woman many affectionately call "Mother Lu".

As a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, Lu Weiying recently arrived in Beijing for the annual two sessions with several cherished photographs carefully selected from her clinic's wall.

She brought these snapshots to share with fellow members the tangible progress made in building a comprehensive fertility support system — a topic that has become a significant national focus.

As the chief expert of the Reproductive Medicine Center at the Hainan Women and Children's Medical Center, Lu sees these not merely as mementos; they represent the treasure of her 36-year career — the fulfillment of family dreams of having a healthy child.

"Every photo represents a vivid story, filled with unique moments of emotion and mutual trust," Lu said. "As new lives are constantly born, the wall is updated in real-time, serving as a microcosm of the happiness found by these families."

Among the hundreds of smiles, the story of a family from Karamay, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, stands out.

After years of struggling with infertility, the couple traveled from the Northwest during the pandemic to seek Lu's help. Beyond clinical excellence, Lu and her team offered a sanctuary of support, providing steady encouragement to help them overcome the challenges of their journey.

When the ultrasound finally confirmed twins, the young father-to-be asked with tears in his eyes,"Mother Lu, may I give you a hug? "The emotional "bear hug" that followed left the entire medical staff in tears, Lu recalled.

Years later, the family returned to Hainan province with their twins and parents for a portrait with her.

Lu's expertise on the medical front fuels her commitment to policy advocacy, especially on advancing fertility-friendly policies.

She submitted a proposal during the 2023 CPPCC National Committee session to include assisted reproductive technology in the national medical insurance system — a move that has later achieved nationwide coverage.

Last year, she proposed strengthening support for affordable childcare for infants aged 0 to 3, and advocated robust nursery teacher training and incentive mechanisms to bridge the "last mile" of high-quality childcare.

Lu said she was heartened by the positive response from national authorities, with several policy measures already being implemented.

This year, she advocated for the protection of fertility for special groups, the promotion of stem cell donation, and the protection of minors in families facing difficulties.

To address infertility at its source, Lu led her team to the grassroots across Hainan last year. They extended reproductive health education from hospitals to communities through 26 public lectures and 478 livestreaming sessions, attracting 160,000 viewers.

During her field research, Lu visited healthcare bureaus and marriage registration offices to monitor policy implementation. "These insights from the field are the 'living springs' that nourish my proposals," Lu said.

However, her compassion extends far beyond the consultation room. Witnessing the struggles of low-income and disabled families who could not afford assisted reproductive technology, Lu promoted a charity project.

To kickstart the initiative, Lu and her team donated their entire 100,000 yuan ($14,498) prize from a provincial science and technology progress award as seed funding.

"As medical professionals, we wish to give back to the people," Lu said.

As China faces new demographic shifts, Lu remains committed to her mission. "Building a birth-friendly society is crucial for high-quality population development," she said.

Looking ahead, Lu plans to continue her research on female fertility protection to further encourage birth intentions, hoping to help more families realize their dreams.