Ruth Pfau

Ruth Katherina Martha Pfau ( born September 9, 1929 in Leipzig) is a Roman Catholic nun and leprosy doctor in Pakistan.

Life and work

Ruth Pfau left their home Leipzig in 1948 and followed her father into the Trizone, from 1949, the Federal Republic of Germany emerged. It began after the passing High School as a nine -year-olds in Mainz to study medicine, which she continued in Marburg and finished. During her studies she was moved by the search for a dominating force in their lives and found this in the Christian faith. Influenced by a friend, she was baptized in 1951 and became a member of the Evangelical church, but converted in 1953 to the Roman Catholic Church.

After completing her studies with the medical state examination, she kept her medical internship year in the hospital Winterberg ( Sauerland). In 1957 she entered the Congregation of the Society of the Daughters of the Heart of Mary. After further medical studies - 1958 in internal medicine in Cologne Hildegardis Hospital, 1959 gynecological and obstetrical training in the Elisabeth Hospital in Bonn - she was first sent in 1960 by her orders to India, where she was working as a gynecologist. However, due to visa problems, she had to make a stopover in Karachi ( Pakistan). There was Ruth Pfau, since the first encounter with leprous people in a slum of Karachi was decisive for her whole life. She decided to build a hospital for leprosy control. The Marie Adelaide Leprosy Centre ( MALC ) was a recognized institution in the whole of Pakistan.

The German Leprosy and Tuberculosis Relief Association ( DAHW ) is since the 60s one of the main sponsors of the leprosy, and later of tuberculosis work Ruth peacocks and their team in Pakistan.

1980 Ruth Pfau was appointed to the national consultant in the rank of a Secretary of State for the Leprosy and Tuberculosis Control Programme for the Pakistani government. 1996 Leprosy in Pakistan was the first time under control.

During a prison visit Ruth Pfau found that many people were almost blind in prison. In collaboration with the Christian Blind Mission since they fought unnecessary blindness.

Publications

  • And have not love. 50 years in Pakistan (ed. Michael Albus ). 2010, ISBN 978-3-451-30297-8.
  • Love and do what you want. Ways my life. 2006, ISBN 978-3-451-05617-8; ISBN 3-451-05617-8.
  • The heart has its reasons. My way. 2003, ISBN 3-451-28221-6.
  • Who has no tears ... What bears my life (ed. Michael Albus ). 1999, ISBN 3-451-04924-4.
  • The last word will be love. A life against indifference. 1996, ISBN 3-451-05172-9.
  • Crazy can not live like this. Doctor, nun, superwoman. 1995, ISBN 3-451-04913-9.
  • Where love leads. Afghan adventure. 1990, ISBN 3-451-21599-3.

Biographical Books

  • Bengt Pflugshaupt: Through the eyes of love. 2005, ISBN 3-451-28542-8.
  • Michael Albus: Ruth Pfau. A life against leprosy in 1984, ISBN 978-3-491-79237-1.

Awards

Name sponsorships

Since 10 December 2010, the Vocational School Centre for health and social care in Leipzig named Ruth Peacock school.

Ramon Magsaysay Award Bambi Award Rupert Neudeck Integrated Authority File
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