Pfau’s humanity

Dr Ruth Pfau who played a key role in eradicating leprosy in Pakistan and served thousands of lepers living in miserable conditions after she arrived in the country from her native Germany in 1960 as part of a Christian mission was undoubtedly one of humanity’s best. Along with Abdul Sattar Edhi she became the beating heart and conscience of Pakistan. With her passing away on August 10, Pakistan has lost one of its greatest citizens. The state funeral given to Pfau yesterday in Karachi, with soldiers carrying her coffin to St Patrick’s Cathedral and state dignitaries attending the sombre event, was a fitting tribute by the state to a woman who had served this country’s marginalised.

Such state honours are deserved by persons of the status of Abdul Sattar Edhi or Dr Pfau. However, perhaps we should be doing more to honour them while they are still alive. Dr Pfau received state honours including the Hilal-e-Imtiaz and Hilal-e-Pakistan for her services when she was alive. However, while the story of her struggle to improve the situation of lepers and her unrelenting services to people she aided was occasionally highlighted in the media, she did not perhaps receive the recognition she deserved. The same may be true of other humanitarians who still live and work, often quietly, in our society. Some struggle in villages, some in other communities – feeding the hungry, educating the illiterate, or offering health services to those who cannot access even the most basic care. Most of us would be able to name at least a few such persons. It is sad they are not more widely recognized and more widely applauded. The mission that Maulana Edhi and Dr Pfau set out on is one that many others need to follow, or at the very least support. The Marie Adelaide Leprosy Centre in Karachi has performed wonders over its years of existence. Much more could be achieved if other individuals and groups everywhere were motivated to aid people quite regardless of their nationality, ethnicity, race, religion, gender or status. That is the true spirit that Dr Pfau showed in her many years here in Pakistan, and this is what we must carry forward.