Agnes Nambozo, a Ugandan nurse, has captured the attention of American businessman and philanthropist Bill Gates through her dedicated work in remote areas. Gates highlighted her efforts in a Gates Notes blog post titled This heroic nurse climbs 1000-foot ladders to save lives, focusing on her challenging journey to reach patients.
Nambozo climbs a precarious 1,000-foot (300-meter) ladder daily to access her workplace in the mountainous region of Buluganya, near Mount Elgon in eastern Uganda. The ladders pose significant risks, with a misstep potentially leading to severe injury or even death.
Initially aspiring to become a police officer, Nambozo was deterred by the dangers of that profession. However, her nursing role in hard-to-reach areas presents similar challenges. Despite this, she remains passionate about her work, driven by a commitment to serve and uplift her community. She views love as an action, embodied in her service to make people feel cared for and supported. With a positive mindset, she believes no obstacle is insurmountable.
Currently, Nambozo is pursuing a nursing degree with support from the Rotary Club of Kampala to enhance her skills and better serve her patients. Gates credits nurses like her and Uganda’s vaccination efforts for the country’s significant progress in reducing childhood mortality. Over the past 25 years, Uganda has lowered its child mortality rate from 145 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2000 to fewer than 40 by 2023, with vaccines and dedicated vaccinators like Nambozo playing a key role.