Indian-origin sepsis survivor hopes to win UK Parliament seat on July 4
Indian-origin Labor Party candidate Hajira Pirani is using her personal experience of surviving sepsis to challenge the country’s government-funded healthcare system. The UK is due to hold a general election on 4 JulyPirani stressed that his commitment to the National Health Service (NHS) goes beyond political slogans. He said only a government led by the Labour Party, which created the NHS 76 years ago, could tackle the waiting lists faced by patients.
Pirani, whose mother is from Maharashtra and grandparents are from Gujarat, aims to be elected as a Member of Parliament for the first time from his constituency of Harborough, Oadby and Wigston in southern Leicestershire in the East Midlands of England.
“In 2019, I survived sepsis, and it was a tough time as my lungs were damaged, and I was on a ventilator fighting for my life. I’ve been campaigning for the UK Sepsis Trust as their ambassador and raising awareness about recognising the symptoms of sepsis, especially among our South Asian communities,” Pirani was quoted as saying by PTI.
She said: “That’s a big reason I’m the Labour candidate, because this is the party that built the NHS, and we’re the only party that can save it and get people the timely appointments they need to save their lives.”
Pirani visits India frequently
As a young mother of a three-year-old child, Pirani frequently visits India and works closely with organisations like Kshamta in Mumbai that help victims of human trafficking.
“As a young mother, it’s about creating a better future for my son and the next generation. It’s also connected to my Indian heritage, because as Indians, we are proud to be a voice for those who don’t feel they have one,” she said.
“I am deeply attached to my Indian roots. I visit India often to visit my family and I also work with organisations there like Sambhavna, which is linked to a charity here called Kindled Spirit, where I am a trustee and help survivors of human trafficking in Mumbai. I am very proud that the values I have inherited from my family have brought me here as a British Indian parliamentary candidate,” she said, according to a PTI report.
Pirani optimistic about end of conservative hold
Regarding his campaign’s prospects, Pirani is optimistic about ending the Conservative hold on his constituency. He said the Labour Party calls for change and sees the summer election as an opportunity.
He said, “It is important that we raise our voices to bring about change. We have suffered 14 years of chaos. Now is the time for the Labour Party to bring stability back to our country.”
“If elected, my job will be to listen to the people in parliament and remain an accessible, visible member, not just at election time, but throughout the term,” Pirani said.
Pirani is one of several Indian-origin candidates contesting the July 4 general election, as the two major parties finalise their lists of candidates for 650 constituencies.
The British Future think tank forecasts that the next Parliament will be the most diverse ever, potentially leading to a rise in the number of Indian-origin MPs in the House of Commons, PTI reported.