At least five people are dead following a suspected waterborne disease that has hit Bunbua-zio community in the East Mamprusi municipality of the North East Region. 

The disease is said to be spreading rapidly in the community as dozens of the residents have been infected leaving at least five others in critical condition.

According to the residents, examination by doctors had indicated that their water was contaminated.

Speaking to JoyNews’ Eliasu Tanko, the father of a seven-year-old victim said her daughter suddenly started vomiting yellowish liquid.

“It was so severe that at a point she could not stand on her feet by herself,” he said.

According to him, they rushed her to a nearby health facility for treatment.

“As soon as we arrived at the health facility, she was taken to see a doctor who examined her and said she drunk a contaminated water.”

The mother of another victim, narrated a similar incident when her six-year-old girl was sent to the clinic for surgery.

“They put a tube through her stomach and brought out lots of yellowish liquid before the surgery. The doctor then told me that the water we drink in our community is contaminated.”

Kasim Amina, a teenage mother who also told the reporter that she lost one of her twins last week, said, “the doctor told me the water we drink is contaminated."

The farming community, which has about 1000 people, lacks basic amenities such as health facilities, water, electricity, roads, and others.

Although there are two boreholes in the community, the people rely on the stream water to avoid the long queue.

“The pipe water is not enough for all of us,” a woman at the stream said.

"We are always at the hospital because our husbands, relatives and children are always sick. We are pleading with the government to give us good drinking water else all of us will die soon,” another woman added.

Although it is still unclear the type of disease, health officials say those infected were found to have problems with their intestines.

However, during a tour around the community, JoyNews sighted evidence of open defecation and other unsanitary activities by the residents along the stream.

Meanwhile, the Assemblymember in the community, Abukari Baaba, said he has complained to a higher authority but nothing has been done.

He said he has invited the East Mumprusi municipal assembly authorities to investigate the cause of the deadly outbreak.

According to him, several people have been affected because “from what they say now, we have at least 15 or 20 people who have suffered from the same sickness.”

“One immediate thing I think they should do is to come and test the water if really the sickness was from the water,” he said.

Apart from that, he wants the government to make available a backup plan for the community.