Nelson Mandela's condition 'serious' but improving "I have been informed that at his age doctors need to intervene in a very gradual and sensitive way in order to maximise the chances of a full recovery," he said. Madiba [Mr Mandela's clan name] is an unparalleled fighter and has always been so. He has met all his health challenges with his tremendous fortitude and grace. The Nobel peace laureate has a long history of lung problems dating back decades to when he contracted tuberculosis while in jail as a political prisoner. He was previously admitted to hospital for an acute respiratory infection in January 2011, when he was kept as an inpatient for two nights.