Life is about making choices. But before you get to this stage, you need to remember and be acutely aware that there are always options out there, available to you. And when it comes to concerns involving your own sexual health, you need to make the right decision or you could find yourself in a bind. Unplanned pregnancies is an example. Before you find yourself in this predicament you may want to first say, 'Yes, I Can!' to the choices available and to the decision that could well affect your future.

Thanks to medical advancement, today's world offers so much that it couldn't those many centuries and decades ago; so many cures and remedies to otherwise debilitating, paralysing and fatal consequences.

For a woman in current times, she too now has choices available to her to say Yes, I Can to whatever that's best for her. And when it comes to concerns of her sexual health, it is vital that she empowers and arms herself with knowledge of contraceptive options available so that she is able to prevent unplanned pregnancies.

Why she must know:

Statistics at a glance:

• Worldwide, 80 million women become pregnant unintentionally every year.
• Of the annual 28 million pregnancies in industrialised countries, almost half are unplanned.
• Since 2005, the number of abandoned babies in Malaysia has reached 407 cases.
• From January to April 2010, a total of 111 young girls in Malaysia have sought help for their pregnancies.

Support for her:

The Yes, I Can campaign is an initiative that seeks to:

• Empower women of every age to make informed and inspired choices about their sexual health and contraceptive options.
• Address and tackle the issues of unplanned pregnancies and abandoned babies that has been a rising concern.
• Facilitate open conversations between young women and their healthcare providers on the role of contraception in reducing unplanned pregnancy and modern contraceptive options, particularly oral contraception.

Yes, I Can is an initiative by Bayer Schering Pharma Malaysia that has garnered the support of the Asia Pacific Council on Contraception (APCOC), the Obstetrical and Gynaecological Society of Malaysia (OGSM) and the Federation of Reproductive Health Associations Malaysia (FRHAM).

They too say, Yes, I Can

Deborah Henry, Miss Malaysia World 2007, has been appointed as the Yes, I Can ambassador alongside popular TV personality Julie Woon and online personality Nicole Tan (http://nicolekiss.blogspot.com). With Deborah, Julie and Nicole working together, these three influential figures will advocate the importance of empowering women to make choices regarding their sexual and reproductive health as well as the effective use of contraception.

www.yesican.com.my

A specially designed campaign website with links to Twitter and Facebook will provide a conducive online platform for young women to discuss topics related to family, love and relationship. Lending their expert opinions to the Yes, I Can campaign are healthcare professionals who will provide advice on the various topics online. The website will also be a source of information on topics such as women's health issues, modern contraception and provide up-to-date information on campaign initiatives.

Yes, I Can Challenge

Malaysians nationwide can channel their creativity toward addressing a good cause and stand to win RM10,000 in cash. The Yes, I Can challenge calls on Malaysian adults aged 18 and above to support and be advocates for Yes, I Can by making an impactful difference on the issue at hand. The challenge comprises two components:

1. A team or individual proposal on how the issue of unplanned pregnancies can be addressed.

2. A poster designed to accompanying the proposal submitted.

Participants can submit their proposal and design via the Yes, I Can website by 15 Dec, 2010. The panel of judges for the Yes, I Can challenge comprises representatives of APCOC, OGSM and FRHAM. A shortlist of six proposals will be put up for public vote, and will be given a chance to present their ideas at a campaign final event in 2011. Detailed mechanics and terms and conditions of this challenge are available at www.yesican.com.my.

Yes, I Can Pledge

Yes, I Can will call for young people to make a pledge to take responsibility for their own sexual health. A mobile Yes, I Can pledge board will travel with the Yes, I Can campaign campus roadshow to encourage young people to support the cause and pledge to do their part to help reduce the incidence of unplanned pregnancies. Online pledges can also be made at www.yesican.com.my.

Spot the Sticker Contest

Every month, four lucky participants will stand the chance of winning attractive prizes through three simple steps:

1. Acquiring a Yes, I Can car sticker from participating pharmacies which are easily identifiable through Yes, I Can stickers on the shop front.

2. Logging on to www.yesican.com.my and registering their car number.

3. Sticking the Yes, I Can car sticker on their car and be spotted!

Yes, I Can car stickers can be obtained at participating pharmacies.

Educational Write-ups

Insufficient knowledge, myths and misconceptions about contraception affect a woman's ability to make an informed decision on their choices for reproductive health. Recognizing this, Yes, I Can will also seek to engage members of the media to shed some light on these issues through educational pieces in key publications.