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NELSON MANDELA IS responding positively to treatment after being readmitted to hospital with a lung infection, the latest health scare for the much-loved anti-apartheid icon.
President Jacob Zuma sought to reassure South Africans that Mandela was in good hands and there was no need to panic. “The country must not panic, Madiba is fine,” Zuma told the BBC, referring to South Africa’s first black president by his tribal name.
The 94-year-old, who has had several recent health scares, was hospitalised just before midnight on Wednesday and is expected to spend a second night in care.
“The doctors advise that former president Nelson Mandela is responding positively to the treatment he is undergoing for a recurring lung infection,” Zuma’s office said in a short statement.
The Nobel peace laureate was conscious when he was admitted, presidency spokesman Mac Maharaj told AFP.
But it is the second time this month that Mandela has spent the night in hospital, after a stint to undergo checkups, which followed a nearly three-week stay in December.
Then Mandela was treated for another lung infection and for gallstone surgery, after which he was released for home-based care.
The series of hospitalisations has seen an outpouring of prayers, but has also seen South Africans become increasingly fatalistic about the future of their national hero.
“In Zulu, when someone passes away who is very old, people say he or she has gone home. I think those are some of the things we should be thinking about,” Zuma said.
He earlier wished Mandela a quick recovery and asked for people around the world to pray for him: “We appeal to the people of South Africa and the world to pray for our beloved Madiba and his family and to keep them in their thoughts.”
Mandela is adored in South Africa where he is seen as the architect of the country’s peaceful shift to democracy after apartheid.
Nearly twenty years after he came to power he remains a unifying symbol in a country still gripped by racial tensions and deep inequality.
A series of labour unrest, violent crimes, grinding poverty and corruption scandals have effectively ended the honeymoon enjoyed after Mandela ushered in the “Rainbow Nation.”
“He is the voice that holds the country together,” said Kasturi Pandaram in Durban, reacting to news of his hospitalisation. “He’s been a stalwart and I think if anything should happen to him now, with the state the country is in, I think it’s going to fall apart.”
While Mandela the symbol bestrides South African politics, the man has long since exited the political stage. He has not appeared in public since South Africa’s football World Cup final in 2010, six years after retiring.
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Don’t see why it can’t be used as a step down unit. Plenty of patients in dublin hospitals who are at a stage of recovery that means they’re neither well enough to go home or sick enough for an acute bed. A short stay step down unit would free up acute beds and take the pressure off a&e departments.
Would make a decent Wetherspoons
Isn’t paying a UK estate agent to sell the building not enough (like there are no domestic estate agents); you want to turn it into a British pub too? Sure why don’t we just give up altogether and repatriate our whole economy over there?
or mad idea. the hse developes the site. they get their primary care facility and turn the rest into apartments. the rent of which will generate income for the primary care unit and free up some hse cash for other uses. why cant this be done.
The HSE is not in the business nor has any resources/experience in property development… It’s not as simple as just ‘knocking up some apartments on the site’
Some kind of public/private partnership would be required.
Once you start down that road you split the focus of the organization and its aims.
Properly managed it is quite straight forward, but I wouldn’t trust the HSE to have such foresight.
Properly managed requires them to hire good people to manage it and property developer salaries are in the millions.
The HSE doesn’t have the cash to pay enough nurses and Drs as it is, could you imagine it firing 50 nurses or cutting back on drugs and telling hospitals to do without to bring in someone to to manage its on the side property business…
Perhaps NAMA could be brought in to run that side of it in partnership with the HSE. They already have the expertise and either way the money generated ends up in the public purse.
Yes indeed let Nama sell it to their friends at a discount good thinking China man.
NAMA is a good suggestion… no need to fire anyone if NAMA provides the finance. Property developers per se don’t really need to be involved (as in a Johnny Rohan or the like )… a reputable contractor along with a small team of professionals should be well able to manage a development of its size.
property developers are just guys with money, you only need an architect and some builders to develop this building not Johnny Ronan.
Exactly what I said…
This would make an excellent respite facility if refurbished and staffed with competent caring individuals. Baggot is has loads of pubs and eateries it doesn’t need any more.
it make a great Hotel, the money from the sale could make a good purpose built unit which would have much lower running costs.
Brian you can spit and find accomodation near Baggot. I think our health service is in more need than our tourist industry!
The HSE didn’t exist in 1986. It would have been entrusted to the Eastern Health Board or some such entity.
Denis will buy it.
As some other posters have observed, it would make an excellent step down facility for those requiring convales cence; it could supply much needed accommodation for the homeless; it could supply much needed Student accommodation. (I won’t even dare mention refugees!). I am sure that many posters could posit more good uses. However, it is apparently much better to sell the building, at a knock down price no doubt, to a foreign multi-billionaire, or a hedge fund stuffed with the same people. After all, must keep up the agreed sale of assets, which had slowed down a bit, but no doubt will get right back on course.
memories
Same here Eleanor . I commenced my training there in 1969 and then after qualifying worked in the ICU , Coronary Care and Thoracic Units . It was a really good place to work and a great hospital
That used to be a district court also
No, you’re thinking of the Richmond Hospital.
No it never was !
Your right yea sorry spot on
I didn’t recognise it!!!
No matter what everyone thinks, it does need refurbishment and would probably make a great hotel .
Turn it into Student accommodation. It’s between UCD and Trinity.
Why can I not post comments on the more political articles on here today?
Behind the beautiful facade, the building is falling down. Needs knocking. It’s a safety issue. Too costly for any health care facility. Hotel best option
Will be turned into luxury apartments costing €500,000 for a one bed flat!
Become a weatherspoons or Greggs
have your say