Freetown: As the first female African pediatric surgeon to volunteer with Mercy Ships, Dr. Justina Seyi-Olajide is breaking barriers and making history. Not only does she deliver life-changing surgeries, she also challenges the status quo of surgical care across West Africa.
According to African Press Organization, Dr. Seyi-Olajide, a bold and brilliant pediatric surgeon from Nigeria, brings more than 13 years of experience to the Global Mercy, the world’s largest civilian hospital ship. Serving alongside the crew in Sierra Leone, a country with only one pediatric surgical specialist serving its entire population, she was determined to help close the massive gap in access to surgical care.
Trained in Nigeria, she earned her medical degree from Ahmadu Bello University and completed her surgical training at Lagos University Teaching Hospital. A fellow of both the West African College of Surgeons and the American College of Surgeons, she is currently pursuing a Ph.D. and fellowship in Montreal, proof that her commitment to excellence knows no borders.
Dr. Seyi-Olajide’s days on board the Global Mercy are packed, from early morning rounds and operations to late-night check-ins with recovering patients. She describes an experience that many might consider too demanding as both deeply rewarding and uniquely fulfilling.
Driven by her passion for making tangible differences in the lives of the children she loves, Dr. Seyi-Olajide credits the potential impact of pediatric surgery as what drew her to the field. “When a child arrives for surgery, we do everything we can, and, when that child walks out healthy again, the joy on the parents’ faces says it all,” she said.
Beyond the operating room, her influence extends into global surgery research. She recently led a landmark systematic review of congenital anomalies screening methods in low- and middle-income countries, which identified practical solutions to improve early diagnosis and treatment.
By combining clinical excellence, academic leadership, and deep compassion for the underserved, Dr. Seyi-Olajide is doing her part every day to help reshape the future of pediatric surgery in Africa, and as a result, the lives of Africa’s children.