ISLAMABAD – Pakistan’s starlet leprosy healer Dr. Ruth Pfau was laid to rest amid tears and sobs at the Christian Cemetery (Gora Qabristan) after a well-deserved state funeral today (Saturday).
The state funeral was announced by Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi after the demise of Dr Pfau, who breathed her last on August 10.
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To perform the burial, Dr Pfau’s dead body was shifted to Marie Adelaide Leprosy Centre from Holy Family hospital, earlier today after which the corpse was taken to St. Peter’s Church.
The celebrated doctor, draped in red clothes was laid to rest with state honour at 2 PM.
President Mamnoon Hussain, Governor Sindh Muhammad Zubair, Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa, Air Chief Marshal Sohail Aman, Chief Minister Sindh Murad Ali Shah and other high-level officials attended the last rites of leprosy fighter and paid rich tributes.
A gun-salute was offered on the occasion and local administration devised traffic plan for the day as well.
Dr Ruth Pfau
Dr Ruth Pfau, who is commonly known as ‘Mother Teresa’ of Pakistan for her extensive battle against leprosy, passed away at the age of 87, last week.
She who was suffering from complications related to old age and had been admitted to the Aga Khan Hospital two weeks ago where her condition was pronounced unstable.
Hailing from Germany, Dr Pfau had been staying in Pakistan since 1960, when she was just 29, dedicating her life to cure patients of leprosy.
She also founded the National Leprosy Control Programme in different areas of Pakistan and was also head of the Marie Adelaide Society of Pakistan (MASP). She has treated over 50,000 patients.
It was due to her efforts that the World Health Organisation (WHO) finally declared Pakistan a leprosy-free country in 1966.
Pakistani government honoured her with the Hilal-e-Pakistan in 1989 and Hilal-e-Imtiaz in 1979. She was granted Pakistani citizenship in 1988.
Dr Pfau also actively took part in rehabilitation work when Sindh was hit by floods in 2010.
Condolences
Condolences poured in for Dr Pfau with politicians, showbiz stars, athletes, lawyers and people from all walks of life lavishing praise on the lady for sacrificing her own life in a bid to treat leprosy patients.
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