Nelson Mandela Released From Hospital

Nelson Mandela was released from a Pretoria, South Africa, hospital on Sunday after an 85-day stay due to a recurring lung infection.

Mandela’s discharge from the hospital was confirmed by the office of current South African President Jacob Zuma. Though he has been released, Mandela’s condition is still critical. He will continue to receive treatment at his home, which lies outside of the South African city of Johannesburg.

"[Mandela's] team of doctors are convinced that he will receive the same level of intensive care at his Houghton home that he received in Pretoria," the statement read. "His home has been reconfigured to allow him to receive intensive care there. The health care personnel providing care at his home are the very same who provided care to him in hospital. If there are health conditions that warrant another admission to hospital in future, this will be done."

The former South African president, 95, was admitted to the hospital on June 8 because of his lung condition. It was the third time the issue led to Mandela’s hospitalization this year. In April, he was hospitalized for pneumonia, and in December he spent 18 days undergoing treatment for his lung ailments and gallstones. It is speculated that Mandela’s pulmonary issues can be traced back to 27 years ago when he contracted tuberculosis while being held prisoner on Robben Island.

Mandela, the first black president of South Africa, served in the office from 1994 to 1999. He's been honored with over 250 awards for his works in the country, including the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993, the US Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Soviet Order of Lenin.

– Chelsea Regan

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