Rest in Peace Sr. Dr. Ruth Pfau ( 1929 – 2017 )
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MALC SEPTEMBER 2017 ISSUE# 23 | www.malc.org.pk | https://www.facebook.com/MarieAdelaideLeprosyCentre/ REST IN PEACE It is hard to say goodbye to certain individuals than others. This August, not only the Patients, Staff and Management of MALC, SR. DR. RUTH PFAU but the whole nation said goodbye to a silent hero Dr. Ruth Pfau, the spirit behind the Leprosy Control Program in Pakistan, ( 1929 – 2017 ) who passed away on 10th August, 2017. She has left behind a legacy of humanitarianism, love, compassion, commitment and team work with her own humbleness and humility. Almost sixty years ago, when she had landed in Karachi, no one knew that this pretty young doctor from Germany will become the driving force to control Leprosy in the country: a disease with unparalleled stigma. She used to say “I don’t believe in talking, I believe in doing. When you work, others will look at you and start to work too…..you need to set good examples and trust me they will always follow.” And this she displayed by virtually spending her entire life in Pakistan, working for the chosen cause. During her work, she touched many lives; not just leprosy patients and their families but a sizeable team of leprosy field workers, whom she always used to acknowledge EDITORIAL for all successes. And it was heartening to see that her students from all corners of Pakistan came to pay their last respects to their beloved teacher and mentor on her final journey to eternal abode. The church was showing harmony and the vision to behold, as persons from all walks of life were there to honor a person, who though was born in a foreign land but was more Pakistani than majority of us. Dr. Pfau led her life with a mission to treat everyone with dignity and without any discrimination. She used to stress upon the importance of work with due quality and ethics. The work which she has started will go on as she once said “The future is intact, as the spirit moves on.” MALC Communication Desk Mr. Mervyn Lobo, CEO Dr. Mutaher Zia Mr. Muhammad Iqbal Mariam Manzil, AM 21, Off Shahrah-e-Liaquat, Mr. Savio Pereira Mr. Francis Shehzad Mr. Francis D’Souza Mr. Jonathan Cash P.O Box 8666, Saddar, Karachi - 74400, Pakistan. Chief Editor: Mr. Nisar Malik Ms. Sonya Chaudry Phone(s): (92 21) 35684151, 35682706, 35688007 Dr. Ali Murtaza Ms. Salwa Zainab Mr. Siddique Jaffar Fax: (92 21) 35683106 Mr. Ravi Shankar Swami Mr. Razik Dino Email: [email protected] Ms. Bernardine Washington Mr. Muhammad Ali LAST RESPECTS TO DR. RUTH PFAU On August 19, 2017, a state funeral with full national honours was held for Dr. Ruth Pfau where hundreds of people including politicians, military officials, members of civil society and diplomats attended the funeral service at St. Patrick’s Cathedral to pay their last respects. Dr. Ruth Pfau was the third civilian after Quaid-e-Azam and Abdul Sattar Edhi to receive a state SIUT CONDUCTS MEMORIAL MEETING FOR DR. PFAU funeral. She was later buried in Gora Qabaristan (Christian Cemetery). The funeral and burial ceremony was attended by President Mamnoon Hussain, Chief Minister Sindh, Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Air Staff, Chief of Naval Staff, senior government and military officials, and people from all walks of life. Civil Hospital Karachi renamed MALC DELEGATION ATTENDS MEMORIAL AT SIUT as ‘Dr. Ruth K.M. Pfau Civil st Hospital’ by Chief Minister On 31 August, 2017, despite heavy Sindh. showers, Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation (SIUT) conducted Pakistan Airforce renamed an a memorial recounting Dr. Ruth under construction ‘Fazaia Pfau’s services. Prof. Adibul Rizvi, Medical College’ at PAF Base Director-SIUT mentioned he had Faisal after Dr. Pfau. mixed feelings of pride and sorrow, because they were honoring such a Lahore College for Women towering person whom we have lost. University (LCWU) renamed its Prominent journalist Ms. Zubeida Women Institute of Leadership Mustafa, former Governor State Bank and Learning (WILL) after Dr. of Pakistan Dr. Ishrat Husain, Former Pfau. Commissioner Karachi Mr. Shafiq Piracha, Mr. Ingolf Vogul from German Consulate, Mr. Mervyn Lobo, HONOURING DR. PFAU DR. HONOURING 10 bedded hospital in Gilgit Leprosy Centre named after CEO – MALC and Dr. Mutaher Zia, Dr. Pfau by Chief Minister Gilgit Leprosy Specialist - MALC also spoke MR. MERVYN LOBO, CEO-MALC, SPEAKING AT THE MEMORIAL Baltistan. on the occasion. Larkana Leprosy Centre “Our teams and patients may plunge into renamed to ‘Dr. Ruth Pfau Primary Health Care Centre’ by mourning but the work will go on with exactly the DCO, Larkana. same spirit.” - Dr. Ruth Pfau 2 We, the Management and Staff of MALC express our sincerest thanks for your condolences received through emails, tweets, phone calls, letters and visits, and regret our inability in thanking each one of you individually. Ruth Pfau may have been in Germany, her heart was always in Pakistan. She came here to serve this young nation, looking to make lives better for those afflicted by Leprosy. In doing so, she found herself a home. People of Pakistan will remember her for her courage, her service and her dedication to the cause. The entire Pakistani nation is indebted to Ruth Pfau. She will remain in our hearts forever.” - Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Prime Minister - Pakistan H.E. SHAHID KHAQAN ABBASI, PRIME MINISTER - PAKISTAN, & MR. MUHAMMAD ZUBAIR UMAR, GOVERNOR OF SINDH MR. MURAD ALI SHAH, CHIEF MINISTER SINDH (RIGHT) MR. MARTIN KOBLER, GERMAN AMBASSADOR MR. EMIL WYSS, (2ND FROM RIGHT), AND MR. RAINER SCHMIEDCHEN, FORMER SWISS CONSUL GENERAL (RIGHT) GERMAN CONSUL GENERAL (RIGHT) TEAM FROM ICI PAKISTAN LTD. TEAM FROM SUI SOUTHERN GAS COMPANY LTD. MR.ZAHEER ADAMJEE , MANAGING DIRECTOR ADAMJEE ENGINEERING (PVT.) LTD. CEO - MALC ATTENDS PPP WOMEN’S WING PROGRAM HONOURING DR. RUTH PFAU Archbishop Joseph Coutts-Ex-Officio President of MALC Governing Body and Mr. Mervyn Lobo-CEO MALC attended a program organized by PPP Women’s Wing at Arts Council, Pakistan, to honour Dr. Pfau on 9th September; being her birthday, and to remember her services. – Resource Mobilization Dept. FROM LEFT TO RIGHT : MR. MERVYN LOBO, CEO-MALC, ARCHBISHOP JOSEPH COUTTS AND MR. NAVEED BHATTI-PPP REP. 3 TB AWARENESS WORKSHOP AT HELP AWARENESS SESSION ON ‘RIGHTS OF PERSONS WITH ORGANIZATION DISABILITIES AND INDEPENDENT LIVING CONCEPT’ A Tuberculosis Awareness Workshop was held at An interactive awareness session on the ‘Rights of Person with Help Organization, New Karachi, for 40 community Disabilities and Independent Living Concept’ was organized by health workers and faculty members of Help MALC Training Department in coordination with the Disabled Organization by the Health Education Department, MALC, where they were taught to diagnose TB at Welfare Association (DWA). Mr. Javed Rais, President & Founder- an early stage, reduce mortality rate in new DWA along with his team briefed about DWA and also showed persons affected by the ailment and were also keen interest in MALC’s Community Based Inclusive encouraged to increase the number of volunteers Development (CBID) activities. - CBID Team in the community. - Health Education Dept. MR. DANIEL KARAMAT, HEALTH EDUCATION OFFICER - MALC FACILITATING THE SESSION GROUP PICTURE WITH DWA TEAM AFC COMMEMORATES COMMEMORATION OF 70TH INDEPENDENCE 70TH INDEPENDENCE DAY OF PAKISTAN DAY OF PAKISTAN AT MALC Around 88 Afghan students gathered to MALC in a small gathering commemorated the 70th commemorate Pakistan’s 70th Independence Day Independence Day of Pakistan. The occasion commenced with a at Afghan Camp School (AFC) in Gadap Town, heartfelt speech by Mr. Nisar Malik, Media Manager – MALC Karachi. The event commenced with the hoisting and Mr. Mervyn Lobo, CEO-MALC remembering Dr. Pfau’s of the flag followed by singing of the Pakistani selfless and untiring efforts in the field of humanitarian work, National Anthem by the students. “The event was which was then followed by the hoisting of the Pakistani flag enthralling” says an Afghan Student to Ms. Raheela and singing of the National Anthem. The JLT batch enlightened (Teacher, AFC). Trivial gatherings like these creates the occasion with Allama Iqbal’s renowned poem ‘Lab pe aati contentment among students which strengthens hai dua’ recited in her honour. – International Project Desk Pak-Afghan relations thus promoting peace and prosperity between the two nations. - International Project Desk OBSERVANCE OF 70TH INDEPENDENCE DAY AT MALC, SADDAR OBSERVANCE OF 70TH INDEPENDENCE DAY 4 AT AFC IAK PAYS TRIBUTE TO DR. PFAU PPL RE-ADOPTS MALC TURBAT CENTRE ‘IamKarachi’ (IAK) team painted an inspiring painting of We are grateful to Pakistan Petroleum Ltd. (PPL) for Dr. Pfau as a tribute to her on her birthday which will be re-adopting MALC Turbat Centre in Balochistan. placed in MALC hospital under their initiative of IAK walls. The Patients, Management and Staff of MALC are thankful for such a thoughtful gesture by IAK. MALC TURBAT CENTRE ARTIST AT WORK (RIGHT) IAK TEAM VISITS DR. PFAU NBP CONTINUES SUPPORT FOR FEMALE WARD Before her sad demise on August 10, 2017, ‘IamKarachi’ NBP continues support for female ward at MALC (IAK) team visited Dr. Pfau at MALC in July to enquire Hospital and Kohistan Centre. Mr. Ovais Asad Khan- about her well being. EVP/ Divisional head, Strategic Marketing Division/ CSR & Sports Division, National Bank of Pakistan presented a cheque to Ms. Salwa Zainab, Manager Resource Mobilization – MALC. FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: DR. RUTH PFAU (LATE) & MS. AMBAREEN KAZIM, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR-IAK CHEQUE PRESENTATION BY NBP REPORTED BY: RESOURCE MOBILIZATION DEPT. OUT OF THE SHADOWS AND INTO THE LIGHT A 10 year old boy, Jan Wali & his family wishes to thank the team of Kalat surgical eye camp and Habib Bank Ltd Foundation. Their child had to suffer a lot for 10 years.