Are Africa’s rural nurses valued enough?

“I just have love for my people… I put myself in their shoes and I’m like, 'let me reach those people'. I feel their pain.”

This week Africa Daily has been looking at what it means to be a nurse in Africa. We’ve heard from those who want to leave to find work – but have been banned from working abroad by their governments. We’ve also heard from those who’ve left the continent with high hopes – only for some to fall prey to unscrupulous agencies who take a cut of their wages.

But today we’re looking at what life is like for those still working in Africa – concentrating on the story of Agnes Nambozo, the nurse captured on video clambering up a rickety wooden ladder attached to the side of a mountain in order to conduct health and vaccination programmes for villagers who couldn’t otherwise access them.

The video led Uganda’s health minister to label her “nurse of the year”. But many questioned why the minister wasn't rewarding nurses like Agnes - and making their working conditions safer.

Presenter: Alan Kasujja @kasujja Guests: Agnes Nambozo and Justus Cherop Kiplangat, President of the Uganda Nurses and Midwives Union.