In low resource countries, it is a challenge to deliver medicines to infants and young children. For example, there is limited access to refrigeration, making liquid medicines unsuitable for storage. Also, since there is an inadequate supply of measuring utensils (medical spoons are a shortage in countries like Kenya), how do mothers administer the correct dosage of medicine to their child? And if there are resources available, for example, the syringe, without proper healthcare education, it is difficult for a mother to correctly use the equipment and administer the medicine.

Not only that, but there is the issue of: will the child like the medicine? If not, why not? It could be taste, texture, a funny smell … all these things need to be considered and tackled when designing the perfect (or most ideal) method of delivering medicine and designing one too.

Feel free to have a look at the resource pack available. You will find a PowerPoint presentation, a worksheet that explains the manufacturing methods used to produce pills, a worksheet on the various chemical flavours used in medicines and food as well as a match-up activity to explore the disadvantages of medical equipment, such as a syringe, a pipette or a medical spoon.

Unlike the other resources, there is no direct link to the A-Level curriculum, however, the chemical flavours worksheet can be linked to organic chemistry which is studied in A-Level. This activity is more tailored towards recognising how chemical engineering can fulfil global needs. There is a key focus on sustainability, and in the PowerPoint presentation, there is a reference made to the Sustainable Development Goals.