Diarrhoeal disease is the second leading cause of death in children under five years old. Handwashing with soap can reduce the risk of diarrhoeal disease by up to 48% but knowledge of its importance for disease prevention is not always reflected in practice. Oxfam, Unilever's Lifebuoy soap and Unilever's Chief Sustainability Office have developed Mum's Magic Hands, an interactive approach based on storytelling which uses field tested, emotional and health motivators to promote effective hand washing in communities affected by emergencies.

All information, materials and resources for implementing Mum's Magic Hands (MMH) in first phase emergency responses (6-12 weeks), and in less acute or more stable contexts (12 weeks or more) to boost handwashing practice, are available on this webpage.

To get a preview you can download the 'field guide' and 'training trainers guide' for the first phase response below.