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People’s Post
CENTENARIAN BEATS COVID-19
Ma Dinah ‘feels nice’ KAYLYNNE BANTOM KAYLYNNE.BANTOM@MEDIA24.COM
A
centenarian from Kensington says it’s the grace of God that has sustained and given her the strength to fight Covid-19. The 102-year-old Dinah Fourie – or Aunty Dinah as she is fondly known – is one of the oldest residents at the Kensington Home for the Aged. People’s Post first reported on Aunty Dinah in April when she celebrated her 102nd birthday, (“Centenarian shares wisdom”, People’s Post, 28 April). Leon Courie, general manager at the home, says they put strict precautionary measures in place and managed to stay Covid-19 free up until Wednesday 1 July when their first positive case was reported. Courie says: “We had one of our residents tested on Tuesday 30 June and the results came back on Wednesday confirming that the resident tested positive. We immediately informed the families and requested that they supply us with vitamins C, D and Zinc tablets to boost the immune systems of our residents.” Courie says, after their first case, they saw a spike in infections. He says a decision was taken to create isolation rooms and all residents were confined to their rooms. Courie says Aunty Dinah, who also suffers from dementia, tested positive on Tuesday 7 July. He says she might be a centenarian, but she is a strong woman. “Ma Dinah never showed any sign of fa-
tigue or anything to indicate that she was suffering. She was in quarantine for 14 days.” In a video clip shared with People’s Post, Aunty Dinah is seen sitting in a wheelchair, speaking to nursing staff after her 14day isolation period. When asked how she is doing, she says: “I feel nice, always nice.” Her only complaint is that her feet are cold. Something she is not quite fond of, but, she admits, it comes with age. Courie says Ma Dinah has always been a God-fearing woman. “Her favourite saying is ‘I am here through the grace of God’. She always says that she is thankful to be here at the old age home and she remembers her date of birth very well,” says Courie jokingly. He says up until two months ago, Ma Dinah was still active, walking around, and that she prefers to do things for herself. Courie says, currently, they have seven residents who are positive while three are scheduled to come out of isolation soon. He says, sadly, they have lost five residents as a result of Covid-19. He says one of their biggest challenges has been to try and keep residents, especially those suffering from dementia, in their rooms. “Some of them don’t understand why they are no longer allowed to use communal areas; we find that they leave their rooms to visit with their friends. Some residents are also aggravated.” Courie thanked the staff for their diligence and hard work in keeping residents safe. “They are doing an amazing job. The battle is still far from being won and we hope and pray that a vaccine is on its way soon,” says Courie.
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The 102-year-old Aunty Dinah Fourie has recovered from Covid-19.PHOTO:
KENSINGTON HOME FOR THE
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