Ruth Pfau
Encyclopedia
Dr. Ruth Katherina Martha Pfau (born 1929) is a German
-Pakistani
nun
and a member of the Society of Daughters of the Heart of Mary who has devoted the last 50 years of life to fighting leprosy
in Pakistan. In 1996, Pakistan was declared by the World Health Organization
to have controlled leprosy, one of the first countries in Asia to achieve this goal.
, Germany
in 1929. She had four sisters and one brother. After World War II
when the Russians
occupied East Germany she escaped to West Germany
along with her family and chose medicine as her future career. In 1949 she studied medicine at Mainz
. She was not satisfied with her life. She wanted to do something with her life. It was providence that brought Dr. Pfau to Pakistan.
was founded and social work for the leprosy patients and their family members was started by Dr.I.K.Gill. A Leprosy Clinic was bought in April 1963 and patients from all over Karachi, Pakistan and even from Afghanistan came for treatment.
Since that time the work grew fast and small treatment centres were established in Karachi and all over Pakistan, training for paramedical workers and social workers were given and health education started to get over prejudices and fear.
Dr.Pfau went to the far off areas of Pakistan where there were no medical facilities for leprosy patients. She collected donations in Germany and Pakistan and cooperated with hospitals in Rawalpindi
and Karachi
.
In recognition of her service to the country, she was awarded Pakistani citizenship in 1988.
On September 9, 1999 Archbishop Simeon Anthony Pereira
of Karachi celebrated a Mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral
to celebrate Sr. Pfau’s 70th birthday.
award for her work with leprosy patients. Speaking at a function in Islamabad on January 30, 2000, to mark the 47th World Leprosy Day, President Rafiq Tarar praised Sister Ruth Pfau, who built up the National Leprosy Control Program in Pakistan, for working not only for those afflicted with leprosy, but also for those with TB. On the occasion of Pakistan Independence Day on 14 August 2010, the President of Pakistan awarded the very high civil award of Nishan-i-Quaid-i-Azam to Dr. Pfau for public service. In 2010 after her work helping people “nobody else is willing or able, or ever thought of helping,” people displaced by Pakistan's recent deadly flooding, she is being hailed as Pakistan's 'Mother Teresa'.
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
-Pakistani
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
nun
Nun
A nun is a woman who has taken vows committing her to live a spiritual life. She may be an ascetic who voluntarily chooses to leave mainstream society and live her life in prayer and contemplation in a monastery or convent...
and a member of the Society of Daughters of the Heart of Mary who has devoted the last 50 years of life to fighting leprosy
Leprosy
Leprosy or Hansen's disease is a chronic disease caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium leprae and Mycobacterium lepromatosis. Named after physician Gerhard Armauer Hansen, leprosy is primarily a granulomatous disease of the peripheral nerves and mucosa of the upper respiratory tract; skin lesions...
in Pakistan. In 1996, Pakistan was declared by the World Health Organization
World Health Organization
The World Health Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations that acts as a coordinating authority on international public health. Established on 7 April 1948, with headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, the agency inherited the mandate and resources of its predecessor, the Health...
to have controlled leprosy, one of the first countries in Asia to achieve this goal.
Early life
Dr. Pfau was born in LeipzigLeipzig
Leipzig Leipzig has always been a trade city, situated during the time of the Holy Roman Empire at the intersection of the Via Regia and Via Imperii, two important trade routes. At one time, Leipzig was one of the major European centres of learning and culture in fields such as music and publishing...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
in 1929. She had four sisters and one brother. After World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
when the Russians
Russians
The Russian people are an East Slavic ethnic group native to Russia, speaking the Russian language and primarily living in Russia and neighboring countries....
occupied East Germany she escaped to West Germany
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
along with her family and chose medicine as her future career. In 1949 she studied medicine at Mainz
Mainz
Mainz under the Holy Roman Empire, and previously was a Roman fort city which commanded the west bank of the Rhine and formed part of the northernmost frontier of the Roman Empire...
. She was not satisfied with her life. She wanted to do something with her life. It was providence that brought Dr. Pfau to Pakistan.
Pakistan
In 1962 she was on her way to India after joining a religious order, but due to visa problems she made a stopover in Pakistan. She came to Karachi and visited a leprosy colony on McLeod Road behind the City Railway Station. Here she decided that the care of patients would be her life's calling. She started with medical treatment for the Leprosy patients in a hut in this slumquarter. The Marie Adelaide Leprosy CentreMarie Adelaide Leprosy Centre
Marie Adelaide Leprosy Centre in Karachi, Pakistan is run by Dr. Ruth Pfau, who is also a Roman Catholic religious sister of the Society of Daughters of the Heart of Mary. Its social work department was founded 1962 by Dr. I. K. Gill and work for the leprosy patients and their family members was...
was founded and social work for the leprosy patients and their family members was started by Dr.I.K.Gill. A Leprosy Clinic was bought in April 1963 and patients from all over Karachi, Pakistan and even from Afghanistan came for treatment.
Since that time the work grew fast and small treatment centres were established in Karachi and all over Pakistan, training for paramedical workers and social workers were given and health education started to get over prejudices and fear.
Dr.Pfau went to the far off areas of Pakistan where there were no medical facilities for leprosy patients. She collected donations in Germany and Pakistan and cooperated with hospitals in Rawalpindi
Rawalpindi
Rawalpindi , locally known as Pindi, is a city in the Pothohar region of Pakistan near Pakistan's capital city of Islamabad, in the province of Punjab. Rawalpindi is the fourth largest city in Pakistan after Karachi, Lahore and Faisalabad...
and Karachi
Karachi
Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
.
In recognition of her service to the country, she was awarded Pakistani citizenship in 1988.
On September 9, 1999 Archbishop Simeon Anthony Pereira
Simeon Anthony Pereira
Simeon Anthony Pereira was a former Archbishop of Karachi.He received his religious training at the Papal Seminary, Kandy, Sri Lanka and was ordained a priest on 24 August 1951...
of Karachi celebrated a Mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral
St. Patrick's Cathedral
St. Patrick's Cathedral may refer to:Northern Ireland*St Patrick's Cathedral, Armagh *St Patrick's Cathedral, Armagh Republic of Ireland*St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin, Church of IrelandAustralia...
to celebrate Sr. Pfau’s 70th birthday.
Awards and Recognition
Ruth Pfau is recognised in Pakistan and abroad as a distinguished human being and has been awarded many prizes and medals. Sister Ruth Pfau was among recipients of civilian awards at President's House on Pakistan Day March 23, 1989. Sister Pfau received the Hilal-i-PakistanCivil decorations of Pakistan
The Pakistan Civil Awards were established on March 19, 1957, following the proclamation of Pakistan as an independent Republic on March 23, 1956. The announcement of civil awards is generally made once a year on Independence Day, August 14, and their investiture takes place on the following...
award for her work with leprosy patients. Speaking at a function in Islamabad on January 30, 2000, to mark the 47th World Leprosy Day, President Rafiq Tarar praised Sister Ruth Pfau, who built up the National Leprosy Control Program in Pakistan, for working not only for those afflicted with leprosy, but also for those with TB. On the occasion of Pakistan Independence Day on 14 August 2010, the President of Pakistan awarded the very high civil award of Nishan-i-Quaid-i-Azam to Dr. Pfau for public service. In 2010 after her work helping people “nobody else is willing or able, or ever thought of helping,” people displaced by Pakistan's recent deadly flooding, she is being hailed as Pakistan's 'Mother Teresa'.
Honours
- 1969: Order of Merit (Germany)BundesverdienstkreuzThe Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany is the only general state decoration of the Federal Republic of Germany. It has existed since 7 September 1951, and between 3,000 and 5,200 awards are given every year across all classes...
- 1969: Sitara i Quaid i AzamCivil decorations of PakistanThe Pakistan Civil Awards were established on March 19, 1957, following the proclamation of Pakistan as an independent Republic on March 23, 1956. The announcement of civil awards is generally made once a year on Independence Day, August 14, and their investiture takes place on the following...
- Hilal-e-Imtiaz
- Hilal-i-Pakistan
- 2002: Ramon Magsaysay AwardRamon Magsaysay AwardThe Ramon Magsaysay Award is an annual award established to perpetuate former Philippine President Ramon Magsaysay's example of integrity in government, courageous service to the people, and pragmatic idealism within a democratic society. The Ramon Magsaysay Award is often considered Asia's Nobel...
- April 2003: Jinnah Award for 2002.
- 2004: Doctor of Science (DSc), honoris causa. Aga Khan UniversityAga Khan UniversityThe Aga Khan University is a coeducational research university spread over three continents. It was granted its charter in 1983 as Pakistan's first private, autonomous university. AKU was founded by His Highness the Aga Khan, and is part of the Aga Khan Development Network...
, Karachi. - 2010 Nishan-i-Quaid-i-Azam for public service.