Hirani was also named one of the World Health Organization’s 100 Outstanding Women Nurses and Midwives in 2021 for her development of a globally disseminated resource on breastfeeding in the era of COVID-19.
“People blame mothers as responsible for breastfeeding,” she says. “But, ideally, it’s not just women who are responsible — it’s a societal task, because women should be getting support from various parts of society.” Three months later, an earthquake measuring 7.5 on the Richter scale hit the region, extending already lengthy stays in relief-camp housing.Article contentWhile there, she saw many mothers turning to formula feeding since it’s an item commonly donated to aid-relief programs. She also noticed an increase in infant illness, as parents were lacking the right tools to prep formula safely.
So, over the past three years, Hirani has led a project funded by the Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation, taking an in-depth look at health-care accessibility for newcomers in Saskatchewan. Language barriers are a hurdle, as demonstrated by Hirani’s earlier anecdote. There’s a limited number of interpreters working for the health authority and they’re busy.