German lady who spent her life fighting against leprosy in Pakistan dies

By APD writer Muhammad Sohail

**ISLAMABAD, Aug. 10 (APD) ** -- A German national physician, Ruth Katherina Martha Pfau, who spent last 57 years of her life in treating leprosy patients in Pakistan free of cost died in the country’s southern port city of Karachi on Thursday.

Ruth Pfau, who also known as great mother in Pakistan, was admitted to the intensive care unit of the Marie Adelaide Leprosy Centre run by her on Wednesday as she was having breathing difficulties.

A team of doctors, treating the 88-year-old lady, shifted her to a ventilator and were struggling to save her life, but she passed away while undergoing a surgery.

In 1960, she migrated to Pakistan permanently and dedicated the rest of her life to the people of Pakistan and their battle against leprosy.

With donations from Germany and other parts of the world, she treated patients from all over Pakistan and even from the neighboring Afghanistan.

Pfau also went to the far off areas of Pakistan where there were no medical facilities for leprosy patients.

In recognition of her service to the country, she was awarded Pakistani citizenship in 1988. She was also awarded Pakistan’s five highest civilian awards, including the Hilal-i-Pakistan and Nishan-i-Quaid-i-Azam for her great services to the humanity.

Her last rituals will be performed at St. Patrick’s Church in Karachi on August 19.

Pakistan Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has announced a state funeral for Ruth Pfau, a symbol of selflessness and devotion to leprosy patients.

“The entire nation is indebted to Ruth Pfau for her selflessness and unmatched services for the eradication of leprosy," PM Abbasi said in a statement, adding that Dr. Pfau, through her dedication and “illustrious toil”, had proven that humanity has no boundaries.

Pakistani President Mamnoon Hussain also paid tribute to the humanitarian, saying that "her great tradition of human service would be kept alive".

He further said that she lived in the prayers of all those who were cured of leprosy as a result of her efforts.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)