Tributes for Dr Ruth Pfau on World Leprosy Day

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah paid rich tribute to Marie Adelaide Leprosy Centre (MALC) and Dr Ruth Pfau, a German woman who migrated to Pakistan in the sixties, for their role in eradicating leprosy from Pakistan.

He said this while addressing the 70th World Leprosy Day, organised by the MALC, at a local hotel on Thursday.

Murad said that the Leprosy Control Programme was started in the 1960s as a joint venture between the provincial health department and the MALC.

"They successfully controlled leprosy in 1996, making Pakistan the first country in the EMRO (Eastern Mediterranean Region Office) region where leprosy was controlled well ahead of WHO target of the year 2000.

He congratulated MALC and the health department for their incredible accomplishment in creating such an exemplary model of long association and collaborative efforts towards leprosy control in Pakistan.

Remembering Dr. Ruth Pfau, the chief minister said that she was a true inspiration to everyone. "She devoted her whole life for the noble cause, especially for the poor people affected by leprosy. Her tremendous efforts cannot be put into words."

He called her death a great loss not only for Pakistan but for the whole world as she was a symbol of humanity and harmony between people of different religions. The German-born medical missionary died aged 88 in 2017, after spending more than 55 years in Pakistan.

In order to keep her legacy alive, her team continues working with high spirits, venturing out into different disciplines such as tuberculosis, community-based development, and mother and child health care, Murad said.

He expressed gratitude to the people of Germany for their generous support to a humanitarian cause for over 60 years. He added that Germany and Pakistan shared deep ties and rich history.

He also thanked Dr Saunderson and Dr Fastinau for coming to Pakistan to support the national programme.

A documentary set to Abida Parveen's 'dhoondege agar mulkon mulkon mille nahin nayab haien hum' was also played at the event as a tribute to Dr Ruth Pfau. In the documentary, her services were acknowledged through her photographs taken right from starting her services in Karachi to her funeral and burial.

MALC CEO Mervyn Lobo, German Ambassador Alfred Grannas, German Consul General Dr. Rüdiger Lotz, Parliamentary Secretary Health Qasim Soomr were present at the event.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 3^rd, 2023.