Niagara's former top doctor Mustafa Hirji reflects on 'missteps,' challenges during early COVID response

The doctor who led Niagara's public health response through the first part of the pandemic is leaving the region for a new role in Sudbury.

Looking back on his time in Niagara, associate medical officer of health Dr. Mustafa Hirji says COVID-19 "was a bit of a trial by fire, but I certainly learned a lot" — including how to better involve the public in decision making. 

Hirji joined Niagara public health about eight years ago. At the time, he said, his goals "weren't particularly lofty" and he was trying to develop his skills. Two years in, he was appointed to the role of acting medical officer of health, a position he held until May this year, when Dr. Azim Kasmani took over that role.

Medical officers of health report to their regions' board of health and direct public health department's programming and staff. Under Ontario's Health Protection and Promotion Act, they can make decisions in exceptional circumstances such as ordering businesses to close or people to leave an area.

When the pandemic started in March 2020, it became public health's main focus, and Hirji said he started working long hours.

His public profile also grew.

"I think most of the time, people don't really have an idea who their medical officer of health is," he said.

Especially in the first two years of the pandemic, he and other medical officers of health were in the news nearly every day, communicating important health information, but it also led to more scrutiny, Hirji said.

In 2020, some local leaders criticized Hirji for not using his power to mandate masking. At the time, he said elected officials should make that call. Later on, some accused him of overreach for placing restrictions on restaurants and recreational facilities.

His approach at the time was that "health powers should really be used in exceptional circumstances," like the pandemic, and when quick action was necessary, he said.

But in hindsight, he said, "There were probably a couple of missteps that I made" and wishes there had been more discussions.

At the time, governments and institutions could have benefited from holding more debates so the public "could really understand the trade-offs that we are dealing with," he said. That might have prevented some of the "divisiveness and polarization," that emerged.

At times, opposition to public health measures was fierce in Niagara. People protested outside Hirji's home and police investigated alleged threats against him. 

Hirji said he expected opposition, and was heartened by messages of support he received.