Sex in the air, Singapore's new lifestyle

Sex in the air, Singapore's new lifestyle

Elisabeth Gwee, The Straits Times, Asia News Network, Singapore

Singapore teenagers can now indulge in a new kind of phone sex.
And best of all, it is free of charge.

Until Oct. 18, they can SMS their most private and intimate
questions about sex to a panel of doctors in Singapore and around
the world. Replies will be SMS'd back to them within 48 hours.

This wireless sex education campaign, believed to be the first
in the world, is called Sex In The Air. It was launched on
Wednesday by Dr Wei Siang Yu, 32, founder of the world's largest
wireless health application provider, Meggpower. Meggpower
already offers a service called iReach, where consumers can get
in touch via SMS with health experts around the world for
personalized health information.

But unlike Sex In The Air, consumers have to pay US$3 (S$5.30)
per question asked.

Dr Wei says: "This campaign is for young people who might feel
uncomfortable asking their teachers or parents about sex. Their
privacy is protected and they'll get professional advice."

To pose a question, teenagers have to register at
www.meggpower.com/sexintheair. Full instructions on how to SMS
their questions will be provided upon registration. While the
campaign is targeted at teens, Dr Wei acknowledges that children
and adults could lie about their age to take part, too.

Questions on sexually transmitted diseases will be answered by
doctors from Action for Aids. Answers to safe sex questions will
be provided by the Singapore Planned Parenthood Association.

All other sex-related questions will be addressed by a team of
seven doctors based here and abroad. They include Professor Peter
Lim, a senior consultant at the Department of Urology, Changi
General Hospital, and Dr Sanderijn van der Doef, a psychologist
and sexologist based in Amsterdam.

However, each person who registers can ask only one question.
Dr Wei says this is to ensure that a wide spectrum of topics is
covered, and that everybody gets a chance to have his question
answered.

Even then, he says not all queries will be answered because of
time constraints on the doctors, and because of the sheer mass of
questions expected.

He estimates that around 10,000 SMS will be sent over 10 days
(until Oct. 18, 2002).

Still, those who do not get any replies can look forward to a
sex education party at Zouk on Oct. 18. All those who have
registered will be invited for a presentation of some of the most
common questions asked.

Dr Wei also plans to release a book at the end of the year,
called the G Book. It will feature a compilation of questions
asked during the campaign, along with detailed answers by medical
experts.

He is also considering making Sex In The Air a permanent
feature on iReach.

Adam Khoo, 27, president of Youth Challenge, says the launch
of Sex In The Air is timely.

A survey conducted this year by the Singapore Planned
Parenthood Association found that 18 percent of youths between
the age of 13 and 18 had sexual intercourse with their partners
while dating. The figure was a big increase from 3.4 percent in
1999.

Khoo says: "Youth today do not lack information on sex because
it's so readily available on the Internet. But what they do lack
is useful information, and someone to guide them on how to use
the information responsibly.

"Sex In The Air is one way to educate them."