Morrison & Foerster, a leading global law firm, today celebrates World Health Day, joining the global campaign for a fairer, healthier world. As part of Morrison & Foerster's efforts to support communities near and far, and recognizing the urgent need to address global health inequities, lawyers in the firm's Berlin office have been advising mTOMADY, an organization dedicated to lowering financial barriers to healthcare across sub-Saharan Africa.
Over the past several years, a team led by Berlin partner Angela Kerek has advised mTOMADY, initially as part of a project led by NGO Doctors for Madagascar and subsequently on its establishment as an independent social enterprise with offices in Germany and Madagascar.
"Advising this incredibly innovative team and venture along the entire journey of providing health service to those who cannot afford it had been very fulfilling and rewarding," said Angela Kerek.
mTOMADY has developed from a mobile health savings wallet into a multi-payer platform that provides low-income, remote, or otherwise vulnerable families with access to a variety of health financing mechanisms through mobile phones. Ongoing projects include initiatives to digitize community-based health mutuals and to distribute mobile phone-based vouchers for subsidized essential health services to families severely impacted by the pandemic.
"Our relationship with MoFo began around two years ago," said mTOMADY co-founder and physician Dr. Julius Emmrich, "and their support has been integral to our journey from a small project to a sustainable, independent social enterprise with active projects in three countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. We are thankful for their support of our goal: making universal health coverage accessible to everyone."
The MoFo team advising mTOMADY is led by Dr. Angela Kerek, partner (Finance) and includes Dr. Jens-Uwe Hinder, partner and Dr. Jenny Broekmann, senior associate (Tax); Dr. Monika Eva Obal, senior associate (Corporate/M&A); and Stephan Kreß, counsel (Technology Transactions).
