 In 1997, Dr. Medge Owen, Professor of Obstetric Anesthesia at Wake Forest University, received a Fulbright scholarship to teach in Turkey. During her teaching assignment, she helped to create successful programs in obstetric anesthesia and neonatal resuscitation that have been sustained. After returning home, Dr. Owen began searching for ways to continue to improve childbirth conditions in Turkey and in other countries, and Kybele was founded.
According to Dr. Owen, "There really is a need for an organization like Kybele. In Turkey, I saw what women experienced having babies. And I saw that I could go in as a foreigner and make a difference, and things actually did change and programs were sustained. And I thought, if I could do this, other people can do it as well because there's nothing that special about me. Other people, given the opportunity, could do the same thing."
To test this theory, in September 2004, Dr. Owen took a delegation of 8 anesthesiologists from 4 countries to Turkey to teach in 10 hospitals. The “painless birth” regional anesthesia techniques promoted by the team, became front page news in a national Turkish newspaper and the topic of several television programs on women’s health. In fact, one of the television programs was a national prime time news story featuring a woman undergoing cesarea section with spinal anesthesia. It was the first time a live birth was ever televised in Turkey. These events indicated to us the importance of the Kybele mission, not only to doctors, but to the general public. The team approach made an impact. Importantly, the project in Turkey has become a valuable model for short term international teaching...a model upon which, Kybele continues to build.
 
The name "Kybele" originates from ancient Turkey, or Anatolia, considered to be the cradle of civilization. In 7000 BC community and agriculture first developed there and Kybele became known and respected as the Mother goddess. Hundreds of small clay Kybele figurines have been found throughout contemporary Turkey in archeological excavations. The statuettes depict the fertility goddess as a plump woman sitting on a throne, giving birth, flanked by leopards. Ancient history has taught us that the "Kybele" era gave considerable importance to women and newborn babies.
Today, Kybele once again symbolizes hope for the future – a future that offers every mother and newborn the opportunity to experience birth in a safe, respectful and supportive environment. After all, safe childbirth makes a difference in the lives of mothers, babies and families of the world. |
