Dr Ruth Katherina Martha Pfau was a German-born Christian nun and Physician in Pakistan. She dedicated her life to eradicating leprosy from the country, saving countless lives. Popularly known as “Pakistan’s Mother Teresa,” Pfau contributed to the establishment of at least 157 leprosy clinics across Pakistan. The clinics treated more than 56, 780 people. She was only 29, when she moved from Germany to Pakistan in 1960. Her achievements will always be remembered. And today, was supposed to be her 90th birthday. On this remarkable day, Dr Ruth is honoured with a beautiful doodle, created by the search giant, Google. With Pfau’s heartwarming Google Doodle, Pakistan as well as the rest of the countries across the globe remembers her noble cause. Inspiring Quotes By Great Humanitarian, Mother Teresa. 

Dr Pfau was inspired to become a nun after she encountered a concentration camp that changed her life. At age 29, while travelling to India, Dr Pfau was waylaid in Pakistan by visa issues and paid a visit to the Marie Adelaide Leprosy Clinic in Karachi. She was struck by the plight of one patient in particular, “He must have been my age—I was at this time not yet 30—and he crawled on hands and feet into this dispensary, acting as if this was quite normal.” His condition, instead motivated Dr Pfau to ultimately put an end to the disease, of which thousands of people were victims in Pakistan. She raised funds, build up more than 150 modern medical centres, including physiotherapy units, workshops to manufacture artificial limbs, and homes for the disabled.

Dr Pfau even started Pakistan's first Leprosy Technicians’ course in 1965 and educated the mass to beat the stigma associated around the disease. Her efforts were widely acknowledged. She became a symbol of selflessness and was hailed as Pakistan’s Mother Teresa. Dr Pfau received many honours for her work. Because of her efforts, the World Health Organisation declared leprosy under control in Pakistan by 1996. Her lifelong service to humanity will always be remembered.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 09, 2019 01:52 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).