Ahmed Zaoui More Important Than Cancer Patients
The Government has got its priorities wrong according to Debbie and Tim Short, Breast Cancer Action Trust who last
November petitioned the Government to expand the age of Breast Screening 40 - 70 years with 124,000 signatures, which
was responded to by expanding the age to 45 - 70 years. As well as still calling for Breast Screening from 40 years, the
Shorts are calling for an end to the delays in access to chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Dr Colin Feek from the Ministry
of Health who appeared before the Health Select Committee last month described the system as "fragile".
The reason why the Shorts say the Government has got its priorities wrong, is because Ahmed Zaoui, convicted criminal
for fraud, and organising terriorist activity, in France 2001, (in papers released yesterday by Auckland Lawyer Colin
Amery), is costing the tax payer a fortune. Meanwhile access to chemotherapy and radiotherapy continues to be
under-resourced when honest New Zealand tax paying men and women when at their most vulnerable needing these treatments,
are being denied them by Government policy that in effect says, "we don't care, you are expendable."
Debbie and Tim Short of the Breast Cancer Action Trust say that if the Government really cares, it will put Ahmed Zaoui
in a boat with an oar and supplies in the Waitemata Harbour pointing north and for good measure have the frigate Te Kaha
fire a few rounds over his bow to hurry him on his way. There is no doubt New Zealand is seen as a soft spot for
convicted criminals at the expense of funding health care to those who are most vulnerable.