The University Teaching Hospital (UTH) Adult Hospital has temporarily placed some male patients in sections of the female ward due to a shortage of bed space in the male wards.
UTH public relations officer, Mwiza Mwiya, explained that the hospital has seen a sharp rise in male surgical patients, mostly from road accidents, construction site falls, and prostate conditions, which require longer stays and have caused overcrowding.
She emphasized that the measure is rare and temporary, ensuring full privacy, separate sanitation, and medical supervision for all affected patients. Once space becomes available, the men are moved back to the male wards.
To address the issue, UTH is converting one female surgical ward into a male ward and plans to expand capacity through a new 240-bed surgical wing once funding for equipment and staff is secured.