Hermanegild Marcos Antonio Drago
Encyclopedia
Hermanegild Marcos Antonio Drago, was a Pakistani Catholic doctor who was revered across communal lines in the south of Pakistan, for his work in health, education and social welfare.
Born in Goa, India, on February 28, 1907, Drago graduated from St. Xavier's College, Bombay and Grant Medical College. In 1933 he moved to Mirpurkhas, Pakistan.
In 1947, during the partition of the subcontinent, trains loaded with refugees arrived in the town. Drago waited at the train station with volunteers to tend to the injured and the ill. For this service he was honored by Pope Pius XII
in 1950 as a knight in the Order of St. Gregory the Great
.
Drago's dedication and devotion to the sick and suffering led him to start a Tuberculosis Association and an Ante-Natal Clinic, which grew into the Mother and Child Welfare Association for the benefit of the many women affected by anemia and related problems.
With the help of Doctor Ruth Pfau
, he also started a leprosy center in a room of his clinic for patients who would otherwise need to travel to Karachi for treatment.
In 1981 he served on a government committee for the rehabilitation of polio-affected children.
He started all kinds of institutions in Mirpurkhas and its surroundings: for leprosy work, tuberculosis cure and prevention, and scholarships for school drop outs. He also worked closely with the Medical Mission Sisters, who run St. Teresa's Hospital in Mirpurkhas and Holy Family Hospital
in Karachi.
Taking special interest in functional literacy, he organized 15 centers at which children aged 5 to 12 are taught to read, write and do simple arithmetic. For those who wanted to study further, he built a functional literacy school. Through the organization "United Youth for a United World" that he started, Drago brought the youth of different communities to work together on small projects so that they could reach out beyond their own community.
He was a charter member of the Rotary Club of Mirpurkhas. He was the first district governor of newly established Rotary District 327.
In 1994 Dr Drago received the Rotary International
award for Service
Above Self.
With the Rotary Club’s substantial contribution a
multipurpose center inaugurated in 1973 with
the help of local and foreign donors, and its first floor
was donated to the Dr Drago School and
Girls College as a Golden Jubilee Gift by the club.
Dr Drago was honoured first with Tamgha-e-Pakistan
in 1967
and then with Sitara-e-Imtiaz posthumously
in 2002 for his services for the betterment of the community.
Doctor Drago’s services ranged from assisting refugees, to the cure and prevention of major diseases, to education and youth animation. He died on January 16, 1999, in Mirpurkhas.
Retired Bishop Bonaventure Paul
, the main celebrant at the funeral Mass on January 18, 1999, at St. Lawrence's Church, praised Drago's love for the poor and his outreach to Hindus and Muslims.
Drago left behind a wife and six children. All four of his daughters are doctors. Although the people of Mirpurkhas wanted him to be buried there, his wife chose Karachi so that people could more easily visit his grave.
His legacy lives on with the Marie Adelaide Drago government leprosy clinic in Mirpurkhas. Sponsored by the Sui Southern Gas Company, it was renovated in 2006 at a cost of Rs 1.5 million and established at the leprosy centre started by Dr Drago. So far the centre has treated 1022 eye patients, five cataracts, 343 with skin disease, and 13 TB patients were provided medicines free of cost. The programme of the centre aims at leprosy elimination and rehabilitation, prevention of tuberculosis and blindness.
Born in Goa, India, on February 28, 1907, Drago graduated from St. Xavier's College, Bombay and Grant Medical College. In 1933 he moved to Mirpurkhas, Pakistan.
In 1947, during the partition of the subcontinent, trains loaded with refugees arrived in the town. Drago waited at the train station with volunteers to tend to the injured and the ill. For this service he was honored by Pope Pius XII
Pope Pius XII
The Venerable Pope Pius XII , born Eugenio Maria Giuseppe Giovanni Pacelli , reigned as Pope, head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City State, from 2 March 1939 until his death in 1958....
in 1950 as a knight in the Order of St. Gregory the Great
Order of St. Gregory the Great
The Pontifical Equestrian Order of St. Gregory the Great , was established on September 1, 1831, by Pope Gregory XVI, seven months after his election.It is one of the five orders of knighthood of the Holy See...
.
Drago's dedication and devotion to the sick and suffering led him to start a Tuberculosis Association and an Ante-Natal Clinic, which grew into the Mother and Child Welfare Association for the benefit of the many women affected by anemia and related problems.
With the help of Doctor Ruth Pfau
Ruth Pfau
Dr. Ruth Katherina Martha Pfau is a German-Pakistani nun and a member of the Society of Daughters of the Heart of Mary who has devoted the last 50 years of life to fighting leprosy in Pakistan. In 1996, Pakistan was declared by the World Health Organization to have controlled leprosy, one of the...
, he also started a leprosy center in a room of his clinic for patients who would otherwise need to travel to Karachi for treatment.
In 1981 he served on a government committee for the rehabilitation of polio-affected children.
He started all kinds of institutions in Mirpurkhas and its surroundings: for leprosy work, tuberculosis cure and prevention, and scholarships for school drop outs. He also worked closely with the Medical Mission Sisters, who run St. Teresa's Hospital in Mirpurkhas and Holy Family Hospital
Holy Family Hospital
Holy Family Hospital in Karachi, Pakistan, was founded in 1948 by the Medical Mission Sisters, a Roman Catholic religious order for women based in Philadelphia, USA. This was at a time when very few health care facilities existed in Pakistan....
in Karachi.
Taking special interest in functional literacy, he organized 15 centers at which children aged 5 to 12 are taught to read, write and do simple arithmetic. For those who wanted to study further, he built a functional literacy school. Through the organization "United Youth for a United World" that he started, Drago brought the youth of different communities to work together on small projects so that they could reach out beyond their own community.
He was a charter member of the Rotary Club of Mirpurkhas. He was the first district governor of newly established Rotary District 327.
In 1994 Dr Drago received the Rotary International
Rotary International
Rotary International is an organization of service clubs known as Rotary Clubs located all over the world. The stated purpose of the organization is to bring together business and professional leaders to provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help...
award for Service
Above Self.
With the Rotary Club’s substantial contribution a
multipurpose center inaugurated in 1973 with
the help of local and foreign donors, and its first floor
was donated to the Dr Drago School and
Girls College as a Golden Jubilee Gift by the club.
Dr Drago was honoured first with Tamgha-e-Pakistan
Nishan-e-Pakistan
The Nishan-e-Pakistan is the highest of civil awards and decorations given by the Government of Pakistan for the highest degree of service to the country and nation of Pakistan...
in 1967
and then with Sitara-e-Imtiaz posthumously
in 2002 for his services for the betterment of the community.
Doctor Drago’s services ranged from assisting refugees, to the cure and prevention of major diseases, to education and youth animation. He died on January 16, 1999, in Mirpurkhas.
Retired Bishop Bonaventure Paul
Bonaventure Patrick Paul
Bonaventure Patrick Paul was born in Karachi, Pakistan on 26 March 1929. He received his early education at St Patrick's High School, Karachi. He received his religious training under the Order of Friars Minor at the Portiuncula Friary in Karachi, and was ordained a priest in Karachi on 1 March...
, the main celebrant at the funeral Mass on January 18, 1999, at St. Lawrence's Church, praised Drago's love for the poor and his outreach to Hindus and Muslims.
Drago left behind a wife and six children. All four of his daughters are doctors. Although the people of Mirpurkhas wanted him to be buried there, his wife chose Karachi so that people could more easily visit his grave.
His legacy lives on with the Marie Adelaide Drago government leprosy clinic in Mirpurkhas. Sponsored by the Sui Southern Gas Company, it was renovated in 2006 at a cost of Rs 1.5 million and established at the leprosy centre started by Dr Drago. So far the centre has treated 1022 eye patients, five cataracts, 343 with skin disease, and 13 TB patients were provided medicines free of cost. The programme of the centre aims at leprosy elimination and rehabilitation, prevention of tuberculosis and blindness.