Medical team brings hope for children with spinal problem

Early screening and medical intervention are important because children in mild cases can recover through stretching exercises or wearing a brace. If the condition worsens, it may require expensive surgery.

Volunteers from the team have trained more than 1,000 campus teachers and grassroots medical professionals to identify subjects. Since 2015, the team has also invited psychologists to help patients build confidence.

Ma Tian, the current team leader, said that generations of medical students have participated as medical volunteers, and after graduating they join as mentors.

"Many patients who have been cured also join us," Ma said, adding that the hope is to train 10,000 professional volunteers by 2024 to cover 30 capital cities.

Yang Zishuo contributed to this story.