Mandela is fine- wife

Nelson Mandela's wife has said his husband   is "fine" and his health is improving after he was hospitalised more than a week ago for pneumonia at the MediClinic Hospital.

"Madiba is fine, Madiba is getting better and better," said Graca Machel , referring to 94-year-old Mandela's clan name,

Machel said Mandela  is in hospital simply because the doctors want to be absolutely sure that he is strong enough to go home and nothing is going to recur.

 

 MEDICLINIC Heart Hospital where Mandela is hospitalised

Her comments marked the latest upbeat update from the family  on  Madela's condition since he was hospitalised shortly before midnight on March 27.


On Thursday, President Jacob Zuma said that he had visited his predecessor and that doctors had said he was showing continuous improvement.

"Madiba is stable and we are thankful that he is responding well to treatment and that he is much better," Zuma said,

To help him breathe without difficulty, doctors last week drained excess fluid that had built up on the lining of his lungs.


Mandela's latest health scare has sparked an outpouring of wishes and prayers from across the globe and at home.

 Mandela's lung problems date back to his 27 years in apartheid jail when he was diagnosed with early-stage tuberculosis in 1988.
He has also been treated for prostate cancer and has suffered from stomach ailments.