BEIJING — The All-China Women's Federation has decided to honor five female medical workers who sacrificed their lives in the fight against the novel coronavirus epidemic as national-level female role models.

The honor was given posthumously to Wang Bing, Ruan Huifang, Zhang Kangmei, Liu Fan and Xia Sisi who had been working on the front line of the COVID-19 fight in Wuhan, the hardest-hit city in Central China's Hubei province, according to a statement released by the federation on April 17.

The five honorees had worked day and night to tend to and rescue patients before they themselves died from the novel coronavirus disease, the statement said.

They have demonstrated the lofty spirit of healing the wounded and rescuing the dying and the benevolence of doctors. They are the representatives of all the outstanding females who have made prominent contributions to the anti-epidemic fight in Wuhan and Hubei, according to the statement.

The federation called on women across the country to learn from the honorees in sharing their strong faith, noble spirit, excellent character and professional integrity and continue to strive for victory over the epidemic and the country's economic and social development.