Africa’s First Female Mercy Ships Paediatric Surgeon Transforming Children’s Lives
As the first female African paediatric surgeon to volunteer with Mercy Ships (www.MercyShips.org), Dr Justina Seyi-Olajide is breaking barriers while making history. Beyond performing life-changing surgeries, she is redefining surgical care standards across West Africa.
Hailing from Nigeria, Dr Seyi-Olajide brings over 13 years of surgical experience to the Global Mercy™, the world’s largest civilian hospital ship. In Sierra Leone, a country served by only one paediatric surgical specialist for its entire population, she is determined to close the immense gap in access to specialised care.
Dr Seyi-Olajide trained in Nigeria, earning her medical degree from Ahmadu Bello University and completing surgical training at Lagos University Teaching Hospital. She is a fellow of both the West African College of Surgeons and the American College of Surgeons and is currently pursuing a PhD and fellowship in Montreal, reflecting her unwavering commitment to excellence across borders.
“Coming from a low- or middle-income country isn’t a reason to stay on the sidelines,” she says. “I want to be part of the change that’s happening.”
With her extensive experience in Nigeria, she understands the desperate need for surgical care in West Africa, particularly for children, who constitute around 40–45% of the population in many sub-Saharan African countries.
Life aboard the Global Mercy is demanding yet profoundly rewarding. Dr Seyi-Olajide’s days are packed with early morning rounds, surgeries, and late-night check-ins with recovering patients. “It’s not just about treating the patient,” she explains. “It’s about caring for the whole person. That’s what happens here.”
Her dedication extends beyond the operating theatre into global surgical research. She recently led a landmark systematic review of congenital anomaly screening methods in low- and middle-income countries, identifying practical ways to improve early diagnosis and treatment.
By combining clinical expertise, academic leadership, and a deep compassion for underserved communities, Dr Seyi-Olajide is shaping the future of paediatric surgery in Africa, one child at a time.
