More than 700 sterile health care hijabs donated to local health care workers

Hilal Ibrahim created the health care hijab for Muslim women. It’s a new, shorter headscarf made out of special materials to prevent it from slipping off.

"It holds better, it’s more breathable, it’s a cooler material, and also, the length on the hijabs were perfect so that they wouldn’t get in the way of the workday," said Ibrahim.

Now, in the wake of COVID-19, her company Henna and Hijabs is stepping in again.

"Some respiratory therapists were letting us know that they had been throwing away their hijabs in between shifts for infection control purposes," she shared.

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In the last month and a half, she has donated more than 725 hijabs to eight Twin Cities hospitals and the Mayo Clinic in Rochester.

"The conversation of PPE has left out the importance of having a sanitary hijab," Ibrahim said. "We talk about gloves, we talk about masks, we talk about N95s and gowns, but we haven’t had the conversation around sanitary hijabs."

She says her health care hijabs have been tested through industrial sterilization washers, and can now be kept on-site at hospitals for use.

"Just like the scrubs and other things can be reused, the hijabs can be sanitized and sterilized to be reused again," she said.

As a health care worker and volunteer for the past decade, Ibrahim knows what it’s like to wear a hijab while caring for patients. She says the discussion of sterilization is needed now more than ever.

"I think if we don’t talk about it, nothing will ever change, so why not start the conversation," Ibrahim said.

Hennepin Healthcare issued the following statement after receiving health care hijabs from Henna and Hijabs: "We are so grateful for Henna and Hijabs for their thoughtful donation of health care hijabs for our employees. We appreciate their generosity during this time."