Mandela home from hospital
Source: Agencies |
January 29, 2011, Saturday
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FORMER South African President Nelson Mandela went home from the hospital yesterday after suffering an acute respiratory infection. Officials said the 92-year-old was joking with his wife and nurses, and handling the difficulties of old age "with the greatest of grace."
Surgeon-General Vejaynand Ramlakan told reporters the anti-apartheid icon would now receive care at home after about 48 hours in Johannesburg's Milpark Hospital.
"It comes to us this afternoon with great joy to hear that he's been discharged," said grandson Mandla Mandela.
Soon afterward, a convoy of security vehicles and a military ambulance carrying Mandela left the hospital, reaching his nearby home in minutes.
A dearth of updates since Mandela was admitted on Wednesday afternoon had led to speculation and concern about his condition. Journalists have been camped outside the hospital and outside his Johannesburg home.
Officials said yesterday that Mandela's office has received more than 10,000 messages of support and well wishes.
Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe, acting president while President Jacob Zuma is traveling abroad, said in retrospect communications should have been better.
"Madiba has received similar checkups in the past and it's never raised the same public panic it has now," Motlanthe said, explaining why officials had not been prepared.
Ramlakan said Mandela was in stable condition and had not been on a respirator. He said Mandela also had a respiratory infection eight years ago and contracted tuberculosis during the 27 years he spent in prison. He added Mandela takes medication for a chronic, unnamed condition, and needs help to walk.
"Despite all of this, his amazing positive attitude allows him to cope with the difficulties of old age with the greatest of grace," Ramlakan said.
"We are at the end of the day talking about somebody who is 92 years old," Ramlakan said. "When you are 92 years old, what is routine is very different from when you are 19."
Motlanthe said Mandela was joking with his wife and nurses before being released yesterday.
Mandela was jailed for 27 years for his fight against apartheid. He became South Africa's first black president in 1994 and stepped down after serving one term in 1999.
Surgeon-General Vejaynand Ramlakan told reporters the anti-apartheid icon would now receive care at home after about 48 hours in Johannesburg's Milpark Hospital.
"It comes to us this afternoon with great joy to hear that he's been discharged," said grandson Mandla Mandela.
Soon afterward, a convoy of security vehicles and a military ambulance carrying Mandela left the hospital, reaching his nearby home in minutes.
A dearth of updates since Mandela was admitted on Wednesday afternoon had led to speculation and concern about his condition. Journalists have been camped outside the hospital and outside his Johannesburg home.
Officials said yesterday that Mandela's office has received more than 10,000 messages of support and well wishes.
Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe, acting president while President Jacob Zuma is traveling abroad, said in retrospect communications should have been better.
"Madiba has received similar checkups in the past and it's never raised the same public panic it has now," Motlanthe said, explaining why officials had not been prepared.
Ramlakan said Mandela was in stable condition and had not been on a respirator. He said Mandela also had a respiratory infection eight years ago and contracted tuberculosis during the 27 years he spent in prison. He added Mandela takes medication for a chronic, unnamed condition, and needs help to walk.
"Despite all of this, his amazing positive attitude allows him to cope with the difficulties of old age with the greatest of grace," Ramlakan said.
"We are at the end of the day talking about somebody who is 92 years old," Ramlakan said. "When you are 92 years old, what is routine is very different from when you are 19."
Motlanthe said Mandela was joking with his wife and nurses before being released yesterday.
Mandela was jailed for 27 years for his fight against apartheid. He became South Africa's first black president in 1994 and stepped down after serving one term in 1999.
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