- PM announces state funeral for Dr Pfau
KARACHI:
A symbol of selflessness and dedication to leprosy patients, Dr Ruth Pfau, 87, passed away in Karachi on Wednesday night.
She had been undergoing treatment at the Marie Adelaide Leprosy Centre (MALC) for the last two weeks and passed away during surgery at 12:30 am on Wednesday night, according to the Leprosy Centre.
Dr Pfau will be laid to rest at Christian Cemetery on August 19 and her funeral will be held at St Patricks Cathedral on the same day, announced MALC Chief Executive Officer Mervyn F Lobo on Thursday. Soon after her death, tributes started pouring in for the German nun who spent more than half a century in Pakistan battling leprosy.
Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbassi announced a state funeral for Dr Pfau and said that she [Dr Pfau] came to Pakistan at the dawn of a young nation looking to make lives better for those afflicted by the disease.
He said that the nation would remember her for her courage, loyalty, service to the eradication of leprosy, and most of all, patriotism. President Mamnoon Hussain said the whole nation salutes Dr Pfau for her exemplary services to the country. He said that Dr Pfau left her home and came to Pakistan just to serve the humanity.
In their separate messages, National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq and Deputy Speaker Murtaza Javed Abbasi paid tributes to the services of Dr Pfau for the eradication of leprosy from Pakistan and expressed their heartfelt grief and sorrow over sad demise.
They said that her selfless efforts to make Pakistan leprosy free will be remembered for long time to come.
Leading politicians, social workers and people from all spheres of life took to twitter to pay tribute to the deceased philanthropist.
She came to Pakistan 56 years ago and spent her life looking after the diseased and dispossessed. We owe u a debt of gratitude Dr Ruth Pfau🙏
— SenatorSherryRehman (@sherryrehman) August 10, 2017
“Saddened to learn of Dr Ruth Pfau’s passing,” wrote Pakistani cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan, adding: “Her spirit of selfless dedication leaves a void that will be difficult to fill.”
Saddened to learn of Dr Ruth Pfau’s passing. Her spirit of selfless dedication leaves a void that will be difficult to fill.
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) August 10, 2017
Dr Ruth Pfau who loved lepers, helped, treated and rehabilitated them. May her soul rest in peace & may others follow her footsteps pic.twitter.com/cAqVHvtxf1
— Dr. Arif Alvi (@ArifAlvi) August 10, 2017
She revolutionized leprosy treatment in Pakistan. Today she went home to her Maker. We’ll miss you, Dr. Ruth Pfau. Shukriya and danke schon. pic.twitter.com/VmfzeM3Mla
— Bina Shah (@BinaShah) August 10, 2017
Prayers for Dr Ruth Pfau, devoted #German doctor who eradicated leprosy from #Pakistan seriously ill
A remarkable woman
— Saima Mohsin (@SaimaMohsin) May 5, 2017
Lots of ex pats like myself come back to Pakistan because of inspirational ppl like Dr Ruth Pfau. RIP pic.twitter.com/h2ANNWbGLO
— Reham Khan (@RehamKhan1) August 10, 2017
Prayers for Dr Ruth Pfua. “We shall remember you as Ambassador of humanity and for selfless services to the people of Pakistan. RIP”, COAS.
— Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor (@OfficialDGISPR) August 10, 2017
Dr Katherina Martha Pfau, a healthcare provider by qualification and humanitarian in spirit, born in 1921 at Leipzig, Germany had made Pakistan her second home soon after her first visit to the country in 1960.
Appalled by the plight of people suffering from leprosy, a skin condition considered to be dreadful as well as contagious hence leading to ostracization of the sufferers, she soon decided to join the team of volunteers working for the cause of leprosy control.
The volunteers mainly comprising nuns also included Dr Zarina Fazalbhoy (late), a senior dermatologist, helping out the inhabitants of Lepers Colony located near City Railway Station in Karachi as well as those visiting Marie Adelaide Leprosy Center (MALC) from across the country.
Dr Pfau had formally accepted the full-fledged citizenship of Pakistan in 1988 and by this time through her untiring efforts and support extended by a team of dedicated workers was able to achieve Leprosy Control status for Pakistan.
She, in the meantime also devoted her efforts towards TB control and blindness prevention in remotest parts of Pakistan. She was awarded the Hilal-i-Imtiaz, the second highest civilian award of the country in 1979 for her commendable services. She was also awarded Hilal-i-Pakistan.
Dr Ruth Pfau made her last public appearance in a program organised to mark World Leprosy Control Day early this year establishing that she may have aged but that had no way dampened her spirit to help the ailing humanity.
