Tutu goes home – spent 9 days in hospital under observation

(ANA) – Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu was discharged from a Cape Town hospital where he had been under observation and receiving treatment for a persistent infection, his family said. Details were given of his illness by his daughter, Reverend Canon Mpho Tutu, in a statement published on the Desmond & Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation website on Tuesday: "The infection was a consequence of treatment for prostate cancer that the Archbishop has received over the past 18 years."

The cancer, itself, was well under control. The Archbishop celebrated Eucharist with the Reverend Canon Tutu in his ward on Tuesday morning, and received a visit from Minister of Health Aaron Motsoaledi, before being discharged. Canon Tutu once again expressed the family's deep gratitude for the love, concern and prayers of so many people across SA and around the world.

He would continue his recovery at home.

Tutu was initially admitted to a Cape Town hospital on July 14, to treat a stubborn but unspecified infection. At that time the family said the treatment was not related to the cancer he has been managing for the past 18 years. Tutu was previously discharged from hospital on July 21 before his readmission.

The 83-year-old Nobel Peace Prize Laureate was back in hospital on July 28 for observation after experiencing discomfort. He celebrated his 60th wedding anniversary with his wife Nomalizo Leah earlier in July.