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Express Tribune
11-08-2025
- Health
- Express Tribune
Eight years on, Dr Ruth Pfau's legacy still touches thousands
Eight years after her passing, the legacy of Dr Ruth Pfau — the German-born physician who dedicated her life to eradicating leprosy in Pakistan — continues to inspire and serve thousands nationwide. Known as Pakistan's "Mother Teresa", Dr Pfau devoted more than five decades to the care of those shunned by society. Born on September 9, 1929, in Leipzig, Germany, she lived through World War II before moving to West Germany to study medicine at the University of Mainz. In 1960, en route to India, she was stranded in Karachi due to visa complications. The plight of leprosy patients she encountered here changed the course of her life. In 1963, she established Pakistan's first leprosy treatment centre on McLeod Road in Karachi, which evolved into the Marie Adelaide Leprosy Centre (MALC). Today, MALC operates 157 centres nationwide, offering treatment to more than 57,000 patients. Over the years, its services have expanded to maternal and child health, tuberculosis care, and support for the visually impaired and physically challenged. Colleagues recall that Dr Pfau's compassion extended beyond medical treatment. She would personally visit remote areas, sit and eat with lepers, and even inspect their kitchens to understand their economic conditions, often arranging financial help for housing or small businesses. "She never felt repulsed," said MALC CEO Maron Lobo, recalling how Dr Pfau would share tea and biscuits with the same hands that had dressed infected wounds. Her humility was legendary. She travelled in vans, walked to church, and eschewed official protocol. She was on the front lines during the 2005 earthquake, 2010 floods, and drought relief efforts in Balochistan. Her humanitarian work earned her several national honours, including the Hilal-e-Pakistan and Hilal-e-Imtiaz. Germany awarded her the BAMBI Award in 2012, where she reminded the audience: "At this moment, it's midnight in Pakistan, and many children will go to sleep hungry. Your world is not my world." Dr Pfau passed away on August 10, 2017, after a prolonged illness, becoming the first non-Muslim woman in Pakistan to be buried with state honours. Karachi's Civil Hospital now bears her name, and her former residence has been turned into a museum. For the patients she embraced when no one else would, and for the nation she chose as home, Dr Ruth Pfau remains a beacon of selfless service — a legacy that lives far beyond her years.
Express Tribune
04-06-2025
- General
- Express Tribune
Govt opens special children's rehab centre
Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah on Monday inaugurated a rehabilitation centre for children with physical and neurological developmental challenges. The facility was established through collaboration between Marie Adelaide Leprosy Centre (MALC), the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPD), and the government. The inauguration event was attended by DEPD Secretary Taha Ahmed Farooqi, German Consul General Dr Rüdiger Lotz, Global Health Advisor German Leprosy and TB Relief Association (GLRA) Dr Anil Fasstino, and MALC CEO Mervyn Francis, among other notable figures. Calling the centre a beacon of hope for children with conditions such as autism and Down Syndrome, as well as other physical and neurological challenges, the CM expressed that the government's vision is to provide treatment and opportunities to these children so they may live dignified and fulfilling lives. CM Shah revealed that the centre offers a comprehensive range of services provided by specialists. These include physiotherapy to improve children's physical development, speech therapy to enhance communication, remedial therapy to support cognitive development, behavioural therapy for encouraging constructive behavior, occupational therapy focusing on daily life skills, and a sensory room to help the children with sensory processing. Further, the facility also offers a play area under professional supervision. The CM visited the center, reviewed the facilities, and met with the children. He also stated that the government has allocated 100 acres of land near the Malir Expressway for the establishment of an Inclusive City for people with special needs. The city will provide schools, rehabilitation centres, vocational training institutes, a hospital, a neuropsychiatric ward, and residential facilities, as well as a 20 acre park to offer a safe play space for children with special needs, along with a large building housing offices of various welfare organisations. The CM stated the city would become a model of accessibility and opportunity, where people with disabilities could live independently and contribute actively to society. Meanwhile, responding to a question, CM Shah stated that the provincial budget would be presented on June 13, 2025, with special attention given to the agriculture sector. Further, he urged provincial representation on the boards of K-Electric (KE), and other power distribution companies, so that Sindh's consumers may directly benefit. He also stated the government wants to run Hyderabad Electric Supply Company (HESCO) and Sukkur Electric Power Company (SEPCO) under a public-private partnership model. The CM revealed that discussions with the federal government on the matter are ongoing, and while progress is being made, results will take time.
