As a youngster, Dr Ola Orekunrin wanted to grow up to be a doctor and find a cure for sickle cell anaemia. She aimed to cure her sister, who suffered from the disease. She studied medicine and surgery at the University of York, and, at just 21 years, she was one of the youngest doctors to qualify in the UK. Ola was awarded the Japanese MEXT scholarship which allowed her to study further in Tokyo, Japan. With a great career ahead of her in the UK, a personal tragedy led to her decision to start an Air Ambulance Service in West Africa.

Dr Ola’s sister had travelled to Nigeria for a holiday with relatives. While in a remote area, she fell ill, and needed urgent medical intervention. From her base in London, Ola tried to arrange an air ambulance to transport her sister to a health facility, but there were no air ambulances in Nigeria. She contacted a medi-vac service in South Africa, but that option was going to take 24 hours. Sadly, her 12 year old sister died, before they could get her to hospital. It struck Dr Ola that this might be a small area where she could make a big difference. If she could make sure people in Nigeria, and across West Africa, could get to the right medical facility, within the right time frame, it would save so many lives. Flying Doctors Nigeria is a flying ambulance service saving hundreds of lives in Africa. It’s the first and only Air Ambulance Company in West Africa, with 20 planes and helicopters, and a staff of critical care doctors, on duty every day of the year. And it’s thanks to one woman who had an idea that she believed in. One brave woman who had the guts to give up everything, move to Nigeria and start from scratch, with nothing but a dream and a burning determination to succeed against all odds. BOOK NOW!

Dr Ola 2012 – never again: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=925-Vrk3zlQ

Dr Ola 2015 – Womenomics: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdOHeuTcKjM

Dr Ola - Lioness of Africa speech: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kgu8Dkyvai0

Dr Ola - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=925-Vrk3zlQ