- Title: German-born nun devoted to ending leprosy in Pakistan dies aged 87
- Date: 10th August 2017
- Summary: PICTURE OF PFAU
- Embargoed: 24th August 2017 16:44
- Keywords: German nun in Pakistan Ruth Pfau dies Pakistan's Mother Theresa leprosy in Pakistan
- Location: KARACHI, PAKISTAN
- City: KARACHI, PAKISTAN
- Country: Pakistan
- Topics: Health/Medicine
- Reuters ID: LVA0026TKQR7R
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: AUDIO QUALITY AS INCOMING
German-born nun Ruth Pfau, who devoted her life to eradicating leprosy in Pakistan, died at the age of 87 on Thursday (August 10) in the southern city of Karachi, a hospital official said.
Widely known as Pakistan's Mother Teresa, Pfau was eulogised by the prime minister and army chief for her contributions towards freeing the country of a contagious disease that can cause disfigurement.
Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi announced a state funeral would be held on August 19 in recognition of her services.
Born in 1929, Dr. Ruth Katharina Martha Pfau had been living in Pakistan since 1960 where she founded the Marie Adelaide Leprosy Centre (MALC) in Karachi, Pakistan's first hospital dedicated to treating the disease, and opened branches across the country.
Last year, the number of patients under treatment for leprosy fell to 531 from 19,398 in the 1980s, the Dawn newspaper said. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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