No one likes to be woken in the middle of the night by a phone call, but for Huang Yaoling, one of China's many dedicated rural doctors, it is a regular occurrence.

On a stormy night back in 2016, Huang recalls one such instance. In the early hours of the morning Huang was jolted awake by the phone ringing, accompanied by panicked voices speaking of concern for a villager with a fever, in the mountainous village of Daxie in Fujian province.

Hopping out of bed still half asleep, Huang gathered up his medical kit and jumped onto his motorcycle and set off in the pouring rain from Bunyun town to the remote village.

Huang has worked at Bunyun's medical center as a doctor for the past 20 years, rising to dean of the clinic, but despite his high position, the now middle-aged man has always dedicated himself to grassroots medical care for the local community.

Half way to the village, Huang was forced to pull up due to a road collapse from the previous days of heavy rain. Undeterred, Huang abandoned his bike and trekked the final stretch through the rain and mud, before arriving at Daxie to provide the much-needed medical care.

With all said and done, Huang finally returned to the hospital at 3 am, exhausted, but proud of the service he provides. "I spend more time at work than with my family," said Huang. "But I feel glad and fulfilled to see the smiles on villagers' faces."

Huang's great commitment to his work is worthy of massive applause, but also revealed the plight of China's rural health care system, where medical staff are in short supply.