Dr. Saida Ahmed comes from a medical background, graduating from la Sapienza University in Italy. She went on to specialise in paediatrics, working at Osservatorio Epidemiologico in Lazio, Italy. She has also worked as a doctor in Somalia and Kenya.
After years of working in the medical sector, Dr. Saida forayed into politics at the federal level in Somalia, where she currently works at the Ministry of Education as a Senior Adviser for health and nutrition in schools.
She also worked at the Ministry of Health as a Senior Child Health Adviser. Her job duties included overseeing the implementation and development of quality standards for healthcare in the country.
Dr. Saida worked at the Benadir Hospital in Mogadishu, where she oversaw its reopening. She trained medical students, nurses, midwives and auxiliaries in conjunction with the opening of the hospital and also worked at Benadir University as a lecturer.
Dr. Saida served as President of the Sisters for Change organisation for Somali women in Edmonton, Canada. She also developed training modules and workshops centred around Female Genital Mutilation for diverse audiences in Somalia, Europe and Canada, and translates booklets and audio about FGM, family planning, breastfeeding, immunisation and child development.