Media Release 10 July 2021
Right to Life commends the Hon. Dr Ayesha Verrall, Associate Minister of Health on adding Folic acid as a public health measure to bread making flour , in order to protect the healthy development of the child from conception, but asks how can you reconcile that with the state funding of the killing of 13,000 unborn children each year, also as health care? This is the same minister who is responsible for overseeing the killing of 13,000 innocent and defenceless unborn children each year in New Zealand.As a doctor she is well aware that the unborn child is a patient who needs special care and protection.
This initiative is highly significant as it recognises:-
· That the child is a new and unique human being.
· That the child from conception has been endowed by its Creator with human rights.
· That the child has a right to good health.
· That the foundation right is an inalienable right to life.
· That the child has a right to the respect and protection of the state.
Right to Life asks the government, if you correctly recognise the humanity of the unborn child from conception endowed by its Creator with an inalienable right to life, how then could you pass the Abortion Legislation Act which declares that the unborn child is not a human being, does not have a right to life until it is born and may be killed effectively for any reason up to birth?
Folic acid prevents Neural tube defects of the brain, spine, or spinal cord. They happen in the first month of pregnancy, often before a woman even knows that she is pregnant. The two most common neural tube defects are spina bifida and anencephaly. In spina bifida, the fetal spinal column doesn’t close completely. Neural tube defects are considered a complex disorder because they are caused by a combination of multiple genes and multiple environmental factors.
The Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall, Associate Minister of Health, said, “ this is about protecting babies…” “ I am overjoyed to announce a move that will protect more babies.” The Minister’s concern for the health of our nation’s precious unborn children is commendable and moving .If the Minister is really concerned about protecting babies how does she reconcile that with her publicly proclaimed objective, “we need to find innovative ways to deliver abortion services.”
Right to Life asks, the Minister, is your government really serious about protecting the health and lives of unborn children when the government is also providing more than $13 million for the killing of 13,000 babies each year before they are born.
Ken Orr,
Spokesperson,
Right to Life