A Dundee woman has been awarded an overseas OBE for her services to healthcare for women in Pakistan.
Dr Elspeth Paterson has spent the last 17 years at the Bach Christian Hospital in rural Pakistan, helping with over 1,500 high-risk deliveries each year.
Dr Paterson was head girl of Harris Academy, and went on to study to become a doctor at Edinburgh University.
In addition to her front line work, Dr Paterson has taught local midwives, trained local medics and mentored doctors from overseas and students on short term placements from overseas.
Mr Piers Bowser, who first met Dr Paterson at Dundee’s Steeple Church 30 years ago, said: “We have followed Elspeth’s journey with interest as she comes back to our church year after year to report on how things have developed in Pakistan and to raise further funds to support the work of Bach Hospital.
“This has been no gap year flash-in-the-pan short term stay on her part, but a continuous 17-year-long service of faithful commitment and loyal service to the gospel and the people she serves.
“While the news of our troubled world has been full of terrible wars, terrorism and brutality, Elspeth has remained true to her calling and used her time and talents to minister in love to the many women who come to her with complications in their pregnancies.”
In one of Dr Paterson’s recent newsletters home she said: “It feels quite overwhelming at times.
“Fortunately we now have more doctors to cope with the crowds and we have some more beds. Even then, patients in the maternity ward have to share beds at times. There is so much need. The government hospitals are similarly overwhelmed.”