Cape Town - Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu was readmitted to a Cape Town hospital on Monday night.
His doctors felt it necessary to keep him under observation for at least the next 24 hours. He was being treated for slight inflammation.
“This is just a caution, not a crisis,” said the Arch’s daughter Reverend Mpho Tutu during a press briefing in Cape Town.
“He is still strong and we know that not everyone is as privileged as we have been with the kind of medical attention he has received,” she said.
Tutu said her father had been readmitted to hospital on Monday night for inflammation, not the persistent infection he had been treated for previously.
Tutu thanked the media for keeping South Africans abreast of the Arch’s condition and all those who were keeping the family in their prayers.
“My mom is concerned. Both my parents continue to be grateful to media for keeping everyone informed as to his wellbeing.
“We are concerned, but not panicked. My mom would prefer having him home to feed his favourite foods and cuddle up but is at hospital. His spirits are good. I saw him this morning. I think hospital is not fun place. Nurses say he's just come in to see them again,” she said.
The Arch was admitted to a Cape Town hospital twice last month for treatment of a stubborn infection, which was not related to the prostate cancer he has managed for the past 18 years.
The 83-year-old Nobel Peace Prize laureate and wife Leah celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary last month. Last December Tutu cancelled plans to travel to a Nobel Laureate’s convention due to ill health.
His daughter reiterated his feelings that all South Africans should have access to the level of treatment he has been receiving.
“We recognise how privileged we are my father is able to get such fantastic medical treatment. We hope this becomes a right not a privilege.”
Cape Argus and ANA