While most teenagers spend their days focused on school, friendships, and dreams for the future, Elizabeth Nzisa, fondly known as Shiku, was forced to grow up much faster than she ever imagined. At only 17 years old, she found herself taking on the role of a mother to her three younger siblings after her family was hit by tragedy not once, but twice.

Her story, shared in an emotional interview, is a powerful reflection of strength, sacrifice and the deep bond between siblings. Elizabeth recalls the moment her life changed completely. Her mother died while giving birth to their youngest sibling, a baby boy. In the middle of that painful loss, their father walked away from the family, leaving Elizabeth alone with a newborn and two other young children to care for.

Mama yetu alipass 2024, Feb. Alipass akipata haka katoto kadogo. Dad naye akatuacha akaenda

Becoming a Mother Too Soon

She explains that she had no choice but to step up and become the parent in the house. She raised her youngest brother from the day he was born, and to this day he calls her mum, not knowing she is actually his big sister. That detail alone shows how much responsibility she carried at such a young age. She became the provider, the protector, the caregiver, and the emotional support for her siblings while she was still trying to understand life herself. With little help from relatives, Elizabeth had to find ways to survive, balancing school when she could, doing small jobs and making sure her siblings were fed, safe and loved.

The journey was not easy. She faced financial struggles, emotional exhaustion, and the pressure of trying to stay strong even when she felt overwhelmed. There were moments when she doubted herself and wondered if she was doing enough. Still, her story is not about defeat. It is about endurance. Elizabeth talks about finding strength through faith, support from the people around her, and the determination to keep her family together no matter how hard things became.

Over the years, she made sure her siblings stayed in school, had food on the table, and grew up feeling loved despite everything they had lost. What could have been a completely broken home became a family held together by her sacrifice and commitment.

Many viewers reacted emotionally, saying the story moved them to tears. Some described firstborn daughters as second mothers, while others said her life shows the kind of courage people rarely see but should never forget.

Click here to read our March issue 2026

There is no doubt that endometriosis can affect a woman’s way of life. The condition slews a couple of conditions, painful sex being one of them. Penetration pulls and pushes any tissue growth behind the vagina and lower uterus.

Although symptoms may differ from woman to woman, here are some things you can do to lessen your pain and ensure you have some good time:

Take a dose of painkillers

Take an over the counter painkiller that sits well with your body before intercourse and incase pain persists, take another one as prescribed.

Track your cycle and try at certain times of the month

Most women with endometriosis experience excruciating pain during their period and ovulation. Keep track of your cycle so that you can know when you are ovulating. You can use apps like my calendar and flo period tracker to track your periods. This will help you know when best to engage in sexual intercourse.

READ ALSO: Crucial Facts About Endometriosis Everyone Should Know About

Use lube

Vaginal dryness is not something to be ashamed of and if you happen to have it, lube should be your best buddy. Make sure to use any silicon or water based lubricant anytime you feel like your vagina is dry. Ensure the application is of good amount to achieve a wet area.

Explore alternatives

Talk with your partner about things that turn you on and bring you pleasure. Just to mention a few; mutual masturbation, foreplay, kissing and mutual fondling. Sex does not have to mean intercourse.

Try different positions

Experimenting different positions can teach you and your partner which ones hurt and the ones that bring direct pleasure with no or less pain. Positions that are considered better vary from person to person so take the time to explore and learn yourself with your partner.

Find the right rhythm

Finding the right rhythm can help you experience less discomfort during sex. Quick thrusting or deep penetration can aggravate pain. Talk to your partner about that which you do not like and find ways that will satisfy the both of you like exchanging positions so that you can control the speed and rhythm.

Bottom line

Intimacy does not have to be boring, painful or make you hate the condition that you have. Talk openly about your feelings around sex and penetration and what would help to ease your concerns.

So, what are your plans for International Women’s Day?

For many of us, the day passes with messages, flowers, hashtags, and well-meaning tributes. We celebrate women’s strength, resilience, and contributions to society, and rightly so. But beneath the applause sits a deeper truth we don’t always confront: celebration without protection is incomplete. Affirmation without action is fragile.

International Women’s Day exists because women’s lives, labour, and bodies have historically been undervalued, overlooked, or placed at risk. It is not just a moment to honour women, it is a call to ask whether our systems, our communities, and our priorities are truly serving them.

(Read Unpacking violence against women 2026 report here.)

Across the country, cancer remains the third leading cause of illness and death, with women disproportionately affected by cancers linked to the reproductive system, particularly cervical and breast cancer. What makes this reality even more painful is that many of these cancers are preventable, treatable, or manageable when detected early.

Yet screening rates remain worryingly low. Fewer than one in five Kenyan women of reproductive age have ever been screened for cervical cancer. HPV, the human papillomavirus, which is responsible for nearly all cervical cancer cases, often goes undetected for years. By the time symptoms appear, the disease is frequently advanced.

This year, ParentsAfrica Integrated Media is choosing to mark International Women’s Day with action. There is no clearer place to start than women’s health. On 8th March, ParentsAfrica will host a Cancer Awareness Medical Camp and Community Forum, dedicated to women and girls. The day will centre on:

• Cancer screening services, including HPV screening

• Health education and counselling

• Panel discussions bringing together medical experts, survivors, advocates, and community voices

• Open conversations on prevention, early diagnosis, and navigating care

The aim is to meet women where they are, reduce fear around screening, and turn information into access. What better way to celebrate women than to empower their health? What better way to strengthen families and communities than to uplift the women who hold them together?

When a woman is healthy, children thrive. Families stabilise. Communities grow stronger. Women’s health is not a women’s issue; it is a societal one.

In the lead-up to the event, ParentsAfrica has also curated a special International Women’s Day e-paper edition, dedicated to cancer awareness, women’s lived experiences, and expert insight.

By signing up for the free e-paper, readers access powerful stories and credible information. They also directly support the medical camp and the broader awareness campaign. The edition features:

• Personal stories from women navigating cancer and recovery

• Expert voices unpacking prevention, screening, and care

• Reflections on caregiving, motherhood, and health decision-making

• Practical guidance for women and families

These are not abstract narratives. They are real lives, real questions, and real choices faced by women every day.

An Invitation: To learn, act, and show up

International Women’s Day should leave us changed, not just inspired. You can be part of this moment by:

• Purchasing the special edition ParentsAfrica e-paper and engaging with the stories and insights inside

• Registering to attend the medical camp and panel discussions, to learn, ask questions, and get screened

• Encouraging the women in your life, mothers, sisters, partners, friends, to prioritise their health

Cervical cancer prevention is especially critical for women in their reproductive years, when early intervention has the greatest impact. Awareness saves time. Screening saves lives.

This International Women’s Day, let us move beyond celebration as symbolism. Let us choose celebration as care. Because honouring women is not just about praising their strength, it is about protecting their bodies, amplifying their voices, and ensuring they live long, healthy lives.

What are your plans for International Women’s Day? If they include standing with women where it matters most, then we are already building a better, healthier community together.

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