Ruth Pfau

DrRuthPfauPakistan

Ruth Pfau (9 September 1929 – 10 August 2017) was a German-Pakistani physician and nun of the Society of the Daughters of the Heart of Mary. She devoted more than 55 years of her life to fighting leprosy in Pakistan and is often referred to as "Pakistan's Mother Teresa."

Early Life

Ruth Pfau was born on 9 September 1929 in Leipzig, Germany. She grew up during World War II and witnessed the destruction caused by the war. After the war, she studied medicine at the University of Mainz.

Career

In 1957, Ruth Pfau joined the Society of the Daughters of the Heart of Mary. She initially went to India but was redirected to Karachi, Pakistan due to visa issues. In Karachi, she visited a leprosy colony and decided to dedicate her life to the eradication of leprosy.

Work in Pakistan

Ruth Pfau founded the Marie Adelaide Leprosy Centre (MALC) in Karachi, which became the hub of leprosy control in Pakistan. Under her leadership, the center expanded its services to include tuberculosis and blindness control programs. Her efforts led to Pakistan being declared leprosy-free by the World Health Organization in 1996.

Awards and Recognition

Ruth Pfau received numerous awards for her humanitarian work, including the Hilal-i-Imtiaz, Sitara-i-Quaid-i-Azam, and the Nishan-i-Quaid-i-Azam. She was also awarded the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany.

Death and Legacy

Ruth Pfau passed away on 10 August 2017 in Karachi. She was given a state funeral by the Government of Pakistan, a rare honor for a foreign national. Her legacy continues through the work of the Marie Adelaide Leprosy Centre and the countless lives she touched.

See Also

• Leprosy
• Marie Adelaide Leprosy Centre
• Society of the Daughters of the Heart of Mary
• Hilal-i-Imtiaz
• Nishan-i-Quaid-i-Azam

External Links

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