The story of Doctor (Sister) Ruth Pfau the Pakistani Mother Teresa
. She devoted her whole life for battling against Leprosy in Pakistan
In 1960 when she was about 30 years old came Pakistan by chance and fortunately visited “Lepers’ Colony” behind McLeod Road. she decided to stay on there for her rest of life. She built hut with the help of fruits crates and started treatment of Leprosy patients.
in 1963 she succeeded to start Marie Adelaide Leprosy Centre , Now the Main Leprosy Hospital in Karachi , having 158 branches which later branched out into tuberculosis and blindness prevention programmes of leprosy patients' family with all necessary service facilities including a Physiotherapy unit and shoe workshop for deformed patients, partly manufacturing artificial limbs through networking with other NGOs, 11 sub-centres and a home for the handicapped patients in Karachi.
It is due to her continual her efforts Pakistan managed to control leprosy in 1996, four years before the period specified by the WHO. Consequently Pakistan is one of the first countries in the EMRO region where leprosy has been controlled and it is now on the way to becoming leprosy-free.
LIFE
Dr Ruth Katherina Martha Pfau, MD was born 9 September 1929, in Leipzig, Germany. She studied medicine in 1957 in what is now Germany and subsequently joined the Order of the Daughters of the Heart of Mary, whose motherhouse is in Paris.
Dr Pfau has travelled all over Pakistan and, with assistance from international donor agencies. She has devoted her entire life to the treatment and control of leprosy. It is due to her efforts that Pakistan managed to control leprosy in 1996, four years before the period specified by the WHO. Consequently Pakistan is one of the first countries in the EMRO region where leprosy has been controlled and it is now on the way to becoming leProsy-free.
AWARD
Dr Ruth Pfau has received numerous awards over the last forty years:
1968 “The Order of the Cross”, Federal Republic of Germany.
1969 “Sitara-e-Quaid-e-Azam” Pakistan.
1979 Appointment as Honorary Advisor on Leprosy to the Ministry of Health, Government of Pakistan.
1979 "Hilal-e-Imtiaz”, Pakistan.
1985 “The Commanders Cross of the Order of Merit with Star”, Federal Republic of Germany.
1988 Honorary Pakistani citizenship.
1989 “Hilal-e-Pakistan”.
1991 “Damien-Dutton Award”, the Damien-Dutton Society, USA.
1991 “Albert Schweitzer Gesellschaft Award”, Federal Republic of Austria.
2002 “Ramon Magsaysay Award for Public Services” Government of the Philippines.
2003 “The Jinnah Award”, the Jinnah Society
2003 “In The Name of Allah Award”, Idara Wiqar-e-Adab.
2004 Degree of Doctor of Science (DSc), Honoris Causa, Aga Khan University, Karachi.
2005 “Marion Doenhoff-Prize”, Germany.
BOOKS BY RUTH PFU
1-To Light a Candle: Reminiscences and Reflections of Dr. Ruth Pfau. National Book Foundation. 1987.
2- Wer keine tranen hat: was mein leben tragt. Verlag Herder. 2000. ISBN 978-3-451-04924-8.
3- Verrückter kann man gar nicht leben: Ärztin, Nonne, Powerfrau. Verlag Herder. 2004. ISBN 978-3-451-04913-2.
4- Das Herz hat seine Gründe: mein Weg. Verlag Herder. 2005. ISBN 978-3-451-05593-5.
5- Liebe und tu, was du willst: Wege meines Lebens. Verlag Herder. 2006. ISBN 978-3-451-05617-8.
6- Ma vie, une pure folie: médecin, religieuse, battante. Editions Saint-Augustin. 2007. ISBN 9782880113926.
7- Und hätte die Liebe nicht: 50 Jahre in Pakistan. Verlag Herder. 2010. ISBN 978-3-451-30297-8.
8- Leben heißt anfangen: Worte, die das Herz berühren. Verlag Herder. 2014. ISBN 978-3-451-06652-8.
9- The Last Word Is Love: Adventure, Medicine, War and God. Crossroad Publishing Company. 2017. ISBN 978-0-8245-2369-5
Death
Early Morning of 10th of August 20017 Sister Dr. Ruth Pfau passes away at Aga Khan University Hospital Karachi, after short illness admitted on 4th of August 2017, She was treated for Respiratory Problems
State funeral
The state funeral for Ruth Pfau was held at Saint Patrick's Cathedral, in front of which the flags of Pakistan and Vatican City were raised at half mast with Archbishop Joseph Coutts presiding over the Requiem. Her coffin was draped in the Pakistani flag and a 19-gun salute was offered by contingents of all three Pakistan Armed Forces. The ceremony was broadcast live on Pakistan Television. Pfau was reportedly the first Christian to have a state funeral in Pakistan
Reaction
President Of Pakistan Mamnoon Hussain said
“Dr Pfau’s services to end leprosy in Pakistan cannot be forgotten. She left her homeland and made Pakistan her home to serve humanity. Pakistani nation salutes Dr Pfau and her great tradition to serve humanity will be continued.
Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan stated,
“Dr Ruth Pfau may have been born in Germany, [but] her heart was always in Pakistan.” He further added that, “she came here at the dawn of a young nation looking to make lives better for those afflicted by disease, and in doing so, found herself a home. We will remember her for her courage, her loyalty, her service to the eradication of leprosy, and most of all, her patriotism.”
Chief of Army Staff Qamar Bajwa mentioned her as
"Ambassador of humanity".
Prime minster also announced that a state funeral would be held for Dr. Ruth Pfau
Present of Pakistan
The flags of Vatican City and Pakistan flying at half mast outside the church
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