Religious bodies in Koforidua in the Eastern region have declined a request by the Blood Bank in the Metropolis to donate blood to replenish the dried-up facility.

Management of the blood bank sent emissaries to the various churches in the Eastern regional capital Sunday after it announced that the facility had run out of the essential body fluid.

Patients who visited the facility last week in search of blood were turned away.

Speaking to Starr News, the Eastern regional blood donor organiser Phanuel Moji Fa said the leadership of the various churches have refused to allow them access to their pulpits to appeal to people to donate blood.

"They are not willing to even listen to us and it's very unfortunate. Yesterday was a Sunday and we moved round and could not get anybody to hear us out. There are many churches in Koforidua and at least two of them can fill the bank, but the churches are not willing to help.

"The response is not good at all, if your hear some of the comments from the pastors; it is unfortunate. I wonder where they want us to get the blood from. This is a civic responsibility and we must all understand that," he bemoaned.