Dr. Ruth Pfau was a German-Pakistani physician who dedicated her life to fighting leprosy in Pakistan. She arrived in the country in 1960 and spent over 50 years working tirelessly to eradicate the disease and support its victims.
Early Life and Career
Dr. Ruth Pfau was born in Leipzig, Germany, in 1929. Dr. Ruth Pfau drew inspiration from the work of the Missionaries of Charity. The Catholic congregation founded by Mother Teresa, as her deeply religious family instilled in her. Upon completing her medical studies in Germany, she joined the congregation and received an assignment to India.
Discovering Leprosy in Pakistan
In 1960, while on her way to India, Dr. Pfau visited Pakistan and discovered the devastating effects of leprosy on the country’s population. The widespread and deeply stigmatized nature of the disease shocked her. Society often isolated leprosy patients, leaving them to suffer in poverty.
Founding the National Leprosy Control Centre
Leprosy was everywhere and had a deep stigma. Patients suffered in poverty and isolation from society. She was shocked. Upon seeing this, she knew she had to act. Dr. Ruth Pfau devoted her life to fighting leprosy in Pakistan. Her efforts transformed the lives of countless people affected by the disease. Today, her legacy serves as an inspiration to many.
Advocating for Leprosy Patients
Dr. Pfau also became a vocal advocate for leprosy patients. Working to change public attitudes towards the disease and fighting for the rights of those affected. She helped to establish the Marie Adelaide Leprosy Centre, a network of clinics and hospitals that provide free treatment to leprosy patients across Pakistan.
Honors and Legacy
Dr. Pfau’s tireless work earned her many honors, both in Pakistan and internationally.
She received several awards during her lifetime and posthumously for her contributions to society. And was awarded Pakistan’s second-highest civilian award, the Hilal-i-Imtiaz,. The highest honor of the German state of Baden-Wurttemberg, the Staufer Medal. In 2017, the government of Pakistan posthumously awarded her the country’s highest civilian award, the Nishan-e-Quaid-i-Azam, in recognition of her outstanding services.
Dr. Ruth Pfau passed away in Karachi in 2017, but her legacy lives on. The National Leprosy Control Centre and the Marie Adelaide Leprosy Centre continue to provide vital care and support to leprosy patients in Pakistan. Dr. Pfau’s life and work serve as an inspiration to us all, reminding us of the power of compassion and dedication in the face of adversity.
