Nelson Mandela Finally Leaves Hospital for Home

Nelson Mandela, an anti-apartheid hero, is finally leaving hospital for his home, but his condition is still reported critical and will continue to receive intensive care while being at home. The 95-years-old, Mandela had stayed in hospital for about 3 months, getting cured from a respiratory disease.

In a statement, the presidency said that Mr. Mandela is still critical and sometimes unstable, so he will under the care of same team of doctors specialized in intensive care at his home in Johannesburg. Presidency further added that in case his health conditions signal another admission to the hospital, it will immediately be done.

An ambulance escorted by Police was seen reaching his suburban home, in the north of Johannesburg, after 09:00 GMT on Sunday. The family of Mr. Mandela has expressed their joy on his return. His grandson, Mandla Mandela said that this is a celebration day for the whole family that his grandfather is finally getting back home with them. He also thanked South Africans and the people all over the globe for their prayers and outpouring of support.

The ruling ANC (African National Congress) expressed their faith in medical team that is looking after Mandela. A statement from ANC said that Mandela will be able to receive constant support from his loved ones and family members while receiving medical treatment at home.

South Africans, for 86 days, have scrutinized all the updates on their first black president’s health, whether he was going to die or live with each setback or each sign of progress. Separated by deep economic and racial divisions, millions of people have united to pray for the speedy recovery of someone who for many exemplifies the best a nation could be.

Lingering concerns still remain about an elderly man’s health who has visited the hospital 4 times in the last year. The news of Mr. Mandela going back home has actually come with a wave of joy among millions of people around the world.

Nelson Mandela Still in a Critical Condition

Nelson Mandela, the iconic former leader of South Africa is still in a critical condition following his stay for more than 2 weeks at a Pretoria hospital for the treatment of a lung infection, as per a statement from president's office. Jacob Zuma, President and Cyril Ramaphosa, the deputy president of ruling party African National Congress, paid a visit to Mr. Mandela at hospital yesterday.

Mr. Zuma said that doctors are doing all they can for getting Madiba’s condition to get better and are making sure that he is comfortable and well looked after. He referred to Mr. Mandela with his clan name in his statement. For the last 2 weeks, presidency has been describing the condition of Mr. Mandela as "serious but stable." The spokesman of Mr. Zuma, Mac Maharaj, gave a sharp deterioration of former president’s condition but didn’t provide any details, quoting the privacy of ailing leader. He said that condition is visibly worse, and he's clearly receiving intensive care.

On June 8th, Mr. Mandela was brought to the hospital due to a lung infection, which could be one of the respiratory disorders he battled since he was caught by TB during his twenty-seven years imprisonment for opposing the apartheid regime of former white-minority in South Africa.

He has been hospitalized four times since December. His frequent hospitalization has caused waves of anxiety among the people of South Africa, where he has been known as a unifying personality. Mr. Mandela became South Africa’s first black president when he led his ANC (African National Congress) party in power during elections of 1994 on a platform of racial reconciliation and forgiveness. He served one 5-year term prior to stepping down for focusing on advocacy and charity work. After he had a retirement from his public life during 2004, his public appearances have been infrequent. At the opening of soccer tournament World Cup in 2010, which was hosted by South Africa, a golf cart drove Mr. Mandela around the stadium to ecstatic applause.

Mr. Zuma, in his statement referring to Mr. Nelson Mandela’s condition, he also fortified the medical care he has been receiving. CBS News reported that the ambulance that was transporting Mr. Mandela to hospital broke down on its way, making him stay in an extreme critical condition for pretty long on a highway of Johannesburg until he was shifted to another wagon. The office of Mr. Zuma made a confirmation that Mr. Mandela should have been shifted to another ambulance, but he denied that the medical care had been compromised.