A hospital in the provincial capital of central China's Henan Province has began free physical checkups for model workers in honour of a late cleaner.

"We hope to guarantee the health of model workers who have contributed much to the society. We are so sorry that Zhu Heping (the cleaner) died at only 52," said Zhou Guoping in charge of the hospital at the weekend.

Zhu Heping was a cleaner in Zhengzhou City who worked diligently for 30 years to keep her city clean and always offered help to those in need.

Her death from hepatitis on February 3 brought tears to tens of thousands of people.

Forty model workers, including 18 of the national level, received free physical checkups provided by the hospital. It turns out that 33 are suffering from cardiovascular diseases.

Observers suggest that heavy work load has led to the high rate of disease.

The hospital has provided free physical checkup for model workers of municipal level twice before.

The title "Model Worker" is given to those in China who work hard to serve society.

Henan Province has 737 national level model workers and more than 8,000 provincial and ministerial level model workers, according to the Henan Provincial Federation of Trade Unions.

Local governments and authorities across China are taking various substantial measures to provide medical help for model workers.

(Xinhua News Agency 13, 2006)