Germany awards Order of Merit to Sister Annette Dimigen for decades of service at Rawalpindi Leprosy Hospital

Liaquat Ali

Islamabad: Germany this week conferred its prestigious Order of Merit on Sister Annette Dimigen in recognition of her nearly three decades of dedicated humanitarian service at the Rawalpindi Leprosy Hospital, acknowledging her longstanding contributions to healthcare and social welfare in Pakistan.

The award, officially known as the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany or the Federal Cross of Merit, is Germany’s highest civilian honour and is bestowed for exceptional achievements in political, economic, social, intellectual and humanitarian fields.

The honour was awarded by German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier on April 29, while the medal was formally presented to Sister Annette by German Ambassador Ina Lepel during a ceremony held at the ambassador’s residence in Islamabad.

According to the German Embassy, Sister Annette has been serving in Rawalpindi since 1997, carrying out a wide range of administrative and organisational responsibilities at the Rawalpindi Leprosy Hospital, commonly known as the German Leprosy Hospital. Her work has played an important role in supporting the institution’s mission of providing healthcare services to some of the country’s most vulnerable communities.

A member of the Protestant Christian community known as the Sisterhood of the Christ Bearers, Sister Annette also serves as Secretary-General of the Aid to Leprosy Patients Association. The religious congregation is devoted to charitable service and community welfare.

Born in Hannover, Germany, in 1964, Sister Annette studied agricultural engineering and initially worked as an agricultural inspector in the German state of Baden-Württemberg. She later joined the Sisterhood of the Christ Bearers and dedicated her life to humanitarian and social service.

In 1997, she volunteered to move to Pakistan alongside fellow members of her congregation and was assigned responsibilities at the Rawalpindi Leprosy Hospital, where she has continued to serve ever since.

The hospital is one of Pakistan’s leading specialised healthcare institutions and provides treatment for leprosy, tuberculosis, multidrug-resistant tuberculosis and cutaneous leishmaniasis. It serves hundreds of thousands of patients annually through both inpatient and outpatient services and remains the only facility of its kind in northern Pakistan dedicated to treating these diseases.

The German Embassy praised Sister Annette’s unwavering commitment, describing her service as an example of compassion, charity and dedication to helping those most in need. It noted that her efforts have contributed significantly to improving the lives of countless patients and their families over the years.

The embassy also highlighted her role in strengthening the bonds of friendship between Germany and Pakistan, stating that her humanitarian work reflects the values of solidarity and service.

The award ceremony was attended by colleagues from the Rawalpindi Leprosy Hospital, recipients of Germany’s Order of Merit residing in Pakistan, diplomats and representatives of the media.

Through the recognition, Germany has honoured Sister Annette’s exceptional commitment to public service and her enduring contribution to healthcare and humanitarian work in Pakistan.