Dans les pays en développement (PED), les problèmes engendrés par le VIH/SIDA et l’inaccessibilité des antirétroviraux (ARV) s’avèrent être la cause de ravages extrêmement préoccupants à tous les niveaux (démographique, politique, social et économique). Dans le cadre de l’Organisation mondiale du commerce (OMC), et notamment de l’Accord sur les aspects des droits de propriété intellectuelle qui touchent au commerce (« Accord sur les ADPIC »), un nombre croissant de PED ont ou sont en train d’intégrer un standard international de protection des brevets de produits et de procédés pharmaceutiques à leur législation nationale. Cette intégration a eu et continue de jouer un rôle majeur dans la problématique de l’accès aux médicaments dans les PED. Les conditions et les effets du régime de protection des innovations suscitent de vifs débats entre les partisans d’une protection accrue des brevets et les défenseurs de l’accès aux médicaments essentiels. Une des principales motivations de notre travail de recherche est de fournir une étude permettant de trouver des solutions à la fois favorables à l’amélioration de l’accès aux médicaments et à la préservation de l’innovation. Le problème complexe de l’accès aux médicaments ARV dans les PED est influencé par la pluridisciplinarité et l’interdépendance de nombreux facteurs. Le système des brevets ne constitue pas « l’unique » solution au problème. Toutefois, il doit être plus sérieusement considéré dans sa fonction d’équilibrage entre l’intérêt privé et l’intérêt collectif. C’est un outil juridique précieux pour le développement économique et technologique des PED et la réalisation de l’intérêt commun contre la pandémie. / In developing countries, problems brought about by HIV/AIDS and inaccessibility of antiretrovirals (ARVs) are proving to be the cause of serious damages at all levels (demographic, political, social and economic). Within the context of the World Trade Organization, and in particular the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (“TRIPS Agreement”), a growing number of developing countries have integrated or are in the process of integrating into their national law an international standard of patent protection for pharmaceutical products and processes. Such integration continues to play a major role in the issue of access to medicines in developing countries. The conditions and effects of the protection regime respecting innovations give rise to heated debates between supporters of an increased patent protection and defenders of the access to essential medicines. One of the main motivations for our research is to provide a study that helps to find solutions that are both in favour of improving access to medicines and protecting innovation. The complex problem of access to ARV drugs in developing countries is influenced by the multidisciplinarity and interdependence of many factors. The patent system does not solve the problem on its own. However, it should be seriously considered in its function of balancing the private and collective interests. It is a valuable legal tool for the economic and technological development of the developing countries and to achieve the common interest against the pandemic.

La thèse a été développée avec le soutien du CAPES en schéma de cotutelle entre l'Université Fédérale Rurale de Pernambuco (Brésil) et l'Université Lumière - Lyon 2 (France). La recherche a été menée entre 2013 et 2017 ayant pour objectif analyser les caractéristiques psychiques, sociologiques et didactiques du rapport au savoir mathématique à partir d'une étude exploratoire réalisée avec 32 enseignants qui travaillent les mathématiques dans les premières années de l'école primaire publiques de la municipalité de Cabo de Santo Agostinho (Région Métropolitaine de l'État de Pernambuco-Brésil). A cet effet, nous nous sommes appuyés sur les apports théoriques de la psychanalyse, de la sociologie, de la didactique et des mathématiques tirés des contributions théoriques de Beillerot (1989), Nimier (1988), Charlot (2000) et Chevallard (1996). Cette recherche se caractérise par une étude phénoménologique, exploratoire sur la relation à la connaissance mathématique. Les outils méthodologiques utilisés dans la construction des données de recherche sont les suivants: un ensemble de questionnaires, les carnets de terrain et les interviews d'auto confrontation simples. Les informations obtenues grâce à l'utilisation de cesoutils ont été traitées, analysées et catégorisées selon les prémisses de l'analyse du discours (dans la perspective renforcée par Charaudeau, 2012, 2014) et de l'analyse statistique impliquée - ASI (dans la perspective suggérée par Regis Grás, 2015 et Régnier, 2010). L'identification, la description et l'analyse des caractéristiques psychanalytiques et des rapports aux mathématiques sont basées sur la catégorisation proposée par Nimier (1988). Alors que l'étude des caractéristiques sociologiques et didactiques est basée sur les résultats de recherches antérieures et les discours des participants sur la scolarité elle-même, la professionnalisation, la formation mathématique, les pratiques pédagogiques et les étudiants. Les résultats suggèrent que les modes de relation à la connaissance mathématique des participants sont constitués par les attributs psychiques de plus d'une catégorie proposée par Nimier (1988). Cependant, on peut dire que parmi les collaborateurs de l'étude, les profils caractérisés comme analytiques et contrôlants prédominent, au détriment des profils plus persécutifs ou schizoïdes. Pour ces enseignants, les mathématiques représentent un objet idéalisé (représentant la beauté, l'harmonie et l'organisation),qui comble les lacunes personnelles (enseignant idéal en mathématiques). En ce sens, nous avons vérifié que la relation à la connaissance mathématique, instituée par ces professeurs tout au long de la professionnalisation, est plus institutionnelle que personnelle. Puisque ce type de relation souffre des influences des interactions sociales et du processus de formation. Ces deux facteurs apparaissent comme des aspects prépondérants dans l'évolution de la relation à la connaissance des enseignants participants. Parmi les contributions de la recherche, nous soulignons la promotion de la réflexion sur le rapport au savoir des enseignants qui travaillent les mathématiques dans les premières années de l'éducation primaire brésilienne. Tout comme nous envisageons la possibilité de matérialiser la notion en question à travers les caractéristiques psychiques qui configurent le modèle proposé dans cette recherche (construit sur les interfaces entre les dimensions psychique, sociologique et didactique du rapport au savoir des enseignants) est une adéquation du modèle de référence, en fonction des désirs qu'ils partagent les uns avec les autres.... / The thesis was developed with the support of CAPES in a regime of cooperation between the Federal RuralUniversity of Pernambuco (Brazil) and the Université Lumière - Lyon 2 (France). The research was carried outfrom 2013 to 2017, aiming to analyse the psychic, sociological and didactic characteristics of the relationship withmathematical knowledge, starting from an exploratory study with 32 teachers who teach mathematics in the firstyears of elementary education, in the public municipality of Cabo de Santo Agostinho (Metropolitan Region ofthe State of Pernambuco-Brazil). To this end, we based the study on the theoretical subsidies of psychoanalysis,sociology, and didactics of mathematics, from the theoretical contributions of Beillerot (1989), Nimier (1988),Charlot (2000) and Chevallard (1996). This research is characterized as a phenomenological and exploratory studyon the relatioship with mathematical knowledge. The methodological tools used in the construction of the researchdata were a set of questionnaires, field diaries and simple self-confrontation interviews. The information obtainedby using those instruments was treated, analysed and categorised according to the premises of discourse analysis(in the perspective fostered by Charaudeau, 2012, 2014) and the implicative statistical analysis - A.S.I. (in theperspective suggested by Regis Grás, 2015 and Régnier, 2010). The identification, description and analysis ofpsychoanalytic characteristics and modes of relationship with mathematics is based on the categorisation proposedby Nimier (1988), whereas the study of sociological and didactic characteristics is based on the results of previousresearch and on the participants' discourses, on schooling itself, professionalisation, mathematical training,pedagogical practices and students. The results suggest that the modes of the participants' relationship withmathematical knowledge are constituted by the psychic attributes of more than one category proposed by Nimier(1988). However, we can affirm that among the study collaborators, profiles characterised as analytical andcontrolling predominate, to the detriment of more persecutory or schizoid profiles. For those teachers, mathematicsis an idealised object (representing beauty, harmony and organization), which fills personal gaps (idealmathematics teacher). In this sense, we verified that the relationship with mathematical knowledge established bythose teachers throughout professionalization is more institutional than personal, since this type of relationshipsuffers the influences of social interactions and the formative process. Both factors emerge as preponderant aspectsin the evolution of the relationship with the knowledge of the participating teachers. Among the contributions ofthe research, we highlight the promotion of discussion on the relationship with knowledge of teachers who teachmathematics in the initial years of Brazilian fundamental education. As well as we see that the possibility ofmaterialising the notion in question through the psychic characteristics that shape the model proposed in thisresearch (built on the interfaces between the psychic, sociological and didactic dimensions of teachers' relationshipwith mathematical knowledge) is an adjustment of the reference model, according to the desires they share witheach other. In summary, the desire to be a teacher, to fulfill the function (that the product of the teaching actionsmay ensure an environment that favours mathematics learning, establishing affective bonds with the children) andto obtain notoriety (to be recognised by the effectiveness of their competences, skills and practices in theclassroom) dynamise and model participating teachers' relationship with the mathematical knowledge due to thepreponderance of the social aspects present in personal and professional life. / A tese foi desenvolvida com o apoio da CAPES em regime de cotutela entre a Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco (Brasil) e a Université Lumière – Lyon 2 (França). A pesquisa foi realizada entre 2013 a 2017 com o objetivo de analisar as características psíquicas, sociológicas e didáticas da relação ao saber matemático, a partir de um estudo exploratóriocom 32 professores que ensinam matemática nos anos iniciais do ensino fundamental, em escolas públicas do município do Cabo de Santo Agostinho (Região Metropolitana do Estado de Pernambuco-Brasil). Para tanto, nos apoiamos em subsídios teóricos da psicanálise, da sociologia e, da didática da matemática, a partir dos contributos teóricos de Beillerot (1989),Nimier (1988), Charlot (2000) e Chevallard (1996). Esta investigação se caracteriza como um estudo fenomenológico e exploratório acerca da relação ao saber matemático. Os instrumentos metodológicos utilizados na construção dos dados da pesquisa, foram um conjunto de questionários, os diários de campo e as entrevistas de autoconfrontação simples.As informações obtidas mediante a utilização dos referidos instrumentos foram tratadas, analisadas e categorizadas de acordo com as premissas da análise do discurso (na perspectiva fomentada por Charaudeau, 2012, 2014) e da análise estatística implicativa - A.S.I (na perspectiva sugerida por Regis Grás, 2015 e Régnier, 2010). A identificação, descrição e a análise das características psicanalíticas e dos modos de relação com a matemática, está pautada na categorização proposta por Nimier (1988). Enquanto o estudo das características sociológicas e didáticas, está pautado nos resultados de pesquisas precedentes e, nos discursos dos participantes, sobre a própria escolarização, a profissionalização, a formação matemática, as práticas pedagógicas e os alunos. Os resultados sugerem que os modos de relação ao saber matemático dos participantes são constituídos por atributos psíquicos de mais de uma categoria proposta por Nimier (1988). Entretanto, podemos afirmar que entre os colaboradores do estudo, predominam os perfis caracterizados como analíticos e controladores, em detrimento dos perfis mais persecutórios ou esquizoides. Para estes professores a matemática figura como objeto idealizado (que representa a beleza, a harmonia e a organização), que preenche as lacunas pessoais (professor de matemática ideal). Nesse sentido, constatamos que a relação ao saber matemático, instituída por estes professores ao longo da profissionalização, é mais institucional do que pessoal. Uma vez que, este tipo de relação sofre as influências das interações sociais e do processo formativo. Estes dois fatores emergem como aspectos preponderantes na evolução da relação ao saber dos professoresparticipantes. Entre as contribuições da pesquisa destacamos o fomento à reflexão acerca da relação ao saber dos professores que ensinam matemática nos anos iniciais do ensino fundamental brasileiro. Assim como, vislumbramos a possibilidade de materializar da noção em questão, por meio das características psíquicas que configuram o modelo proposto nesta pesquisa (construído em função das interfaces entre as dimensões psíquicas, sociológicas e didáticas da relação ao saber matemático dos professores) é uma adequação do modelo de referência, em função dos desejos que compartilham entre si. Em síntese, o desejo de ser professor, de realizar a função (que o produto das ações docentes seja a garantia de um ambiente favorável às aprendizagens matemáticas, inclusive com o estabelecimento de laços afetivos com as crianças) e de obter notoriedade (serem reconhecidos pela eficácia das suas competências, habilidades e práticas em sala de aula), dinamizam e modelam a relação ao saber matemático dos professores participantes em virtude da preponderância dos aspectos sociais presentes na vida pessoal e profissional.

Mental health services in South Africa and the field of psychology are not keeping up with the changed landscape of child sexual abuse that includes women who perpetrate these violations. New laws have not made a massive impact on out of control behaviours, while the paucity of mental health services for women who sexually violate children is a significant failing in mental health service provision. Exploratory, descriptive research approached the topic from the perspective of the psychology of healing rather than the psychology of wrongdoing. Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted with 38 professionals in relevant fields, purposefully selected in four provinces in South Africa that revealed a lack of knowledge, resources, and funding, as well as gaps in curricula. Some practitioners were willing to work with women who sexually violate children, while others were either unwilling or reluctant to do so for various reasons. Women who sexually violate children are typically not mentally ill but could have mental disorders and lives dominated by dysfunction and trauma. Data were analysed utilising Attride- Stirling’s (2001) thematic networks, while Gannon, Rose, and Ward’s (2008) descriptive model of female sexual offending (DMFSO) provided the theoretical framework. Recommendations include establishing online services to aid perpetrator disclosure and therapeutic interventions, providing individual psychotherapeutic interventions to uncover more than recent trauma, directing donor funding to sex offender programmes, networking among service providers including government agencies, and training those within the mental health services environment and the criminal justice system. Furthermore, mental health and relevant medical practitioners need to ensure comfort with their sexuality and to resolve their psychological blind spots before offering psychotherapeutic interventions to women who sexually violate children. / Psychology / Ph. D. (Psychology)

The purpose of the study was to explore the experiences of female nyaope injectors residing in City of Tshwane Municipality, Gauteng. The study was conducted at COSUP sites namely; Soshanguve, Pretoria CBD, Sunnyside, Mamelodi, Eersterust, and Attridgeville. The study focused on females who have a history of injecting nyaope, accessing substance use related services at a registered service provider within City of Tshwane Municipality, Gauteng. Research design of the study was exploratory, which is basically used to explore a new topic or learn more about phenomenon where little is known. The research approach was purely qualitative methodology. This permitted the researcher to deeply explore the lived experiences of female nyaope injectors residing in City of Tshwane Municipality, Gauteng. A qualitative in-depth interview method was used to collect data from 24 participants who took part in the study. Questions of the interview were semi-structured, in-depth one-on-one interviews and were used to explore the lived experiences of female nyaope injectors residing in City of Tshwane Municipality, Gauteng. The findings of the study revealed that females who are injecting nyaope, are at risk of contracting HIV and other blood-borne infections. The stigma that is perpetuated by families, intimate partners, communities, health care professionals, and police officers is creating a hostile environment for female nyaope injectors; which increases the risk of contracting HIV and other blood-borne infections. Harm reduction services have the potential to address the needs of female nyaope injectors if fully implemented. It can be concluded that there is a need for substance abuse service providers to implement comprehensive harm reduction services to curb HIV prevalence amongst female nyaope injectors. / Health Studies / M.A. (Social Behavioural Studies in HIV/AIDS)

La majorité des personnes utilisatrices de drogues par injection (PUDI) contracteront le virus de l’hépatite C (VHC), les mettant à risque accru de complications hépatiques graves et parfois mortelles. Les comportements les plus risqués pour l’acquisition du VHC incluent le partage de matériel d’injection et l’injection à haute fréquence. Un facteur jusqu’ici négligé dans l’évaluation du risque de VHC est l’aspect dynamique de l’injection, c.-à-d. la manière dont elle varie dans le temps, incluant l’effet des périodes sans injection et celui des changements dans la fréquence d’injection. On reconnaît également l’effet délétère que l’instabilité résidentielle peut avoir sur le risque de VHC, bien que les mécanismes sous-jacents soient mal compris. Cette thèse s’intéresse à l’effet des variations temporelles de l’injection sur le risque de VHC, et à la manière dont la fréquence d’injection évolue en concomitance avec les conditions résidentielles dans le temps, afin d’aider au développement de nouvelles stratégies de prévention du VHC. Les données ont été recueillies entre mars 2011 et juin 2016 dans la Hepatitis Cohort, une cohorte de PUDI suivies trimestriellement à Montréal, au Québec. Une première analyse a évalué l’effet des périodes sans injection de trois mois ou moins sur le risque de VHC sur 916 personnes-années de suivi, par régression de Cox (N=372). Celle-ci suggère que les PUDI présentant des périodes sans injection courtes (3/3 mois sans injection) et sporadiques (1/3 ou 2/3 mois sans injection) sont respectivement 76% et 44% moins à risque de VHC que celles s’injectant de manière persistante (0/3 mois sans injection). Une deuxième analyse a utilisé la modélisation de trajectoires fondée sur le groupement pour identifier cinq types distincts de trajectoires de fréquence d’injection suivies sur une année, lesquels ont ensuite été comparés en termes d’incidence du VHC sur des périodes de suivi allant de 71 à 355 personnes-années (N=386). Les résultats suggèrent que les PUDI dont la fréquence reste élevée (injection fréquente) ou change dans le temps (croissante, décroissante) sont à plus haut risque de VHC que celles s’injectant à basse fréquence (sporadique, peu fréquente). Une dernière analyse a identifié trois types de trajectoires de stabilité résidentielle suivies sur un an (persistance, déclin, amélioration; N=386), lesquels ont été évalués en association avec les trajectoires de fréquence d’injection suivies simultanément. Les résultats suggèrent qu’il existe un lien entre l’amélioration des conditions résidentielles et la diminution de la fréquence d’injection, mais aussi que la probabilité d’injection à fréquence croissante est plus élevée chez les PUDI maintenant des conditions résidentielles stables que celles chez qui elles s’améliorent. Collectivement, les résultats ont de nombreuses implications en termes de prévention du VHC. Cliniquement, l’instabilité de la fréquence d’injection semble être un facteur de risque à monitorer régulièrement. En termes de santé publique, les interventions favorisant l’engagement dans des périodes sans injection ou le maintien d’une basse fréquence d’injection pourraient être prometteuses. Enfin, les stratégies visant l’amélioration des conditions résidentielles pourraient éventuellement aider les PUDI à réduire leur fréquence d’injection, mais être insuffisantes pour maintenir celle-ci à basse fréquence une fois la stabilité atteinte. / The majority of people who inject drugs (PWID) will become infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV), placing them at risk of serious and sometimes fatal liver complications. Injecting behaviours with higher risk of HCV transmission include injecting equipment sharing and high frequency injecting. One factor that has been overlooked when assessing HCV acquisition risk is the dynamic aspect of drug injecting, i.e., how drug injecting varies over time, including the role of injecting cessation episodes and that of changes in injecting frequency. Moreover, there is growing recognition of the deleterious effect unstable housing can have on HCV acquisition risk, although the underlying mechanisms are not yet fully understood. This thesis examines how temporal variations in drug injecting relate to HCV acquisition risk and further explores how housing conditions and injecting frequency evolve together over time, for the purposes of contributing to the development of novel HCV prevention strategies. Data were collected between March 2011 and June 2016 in the Hepatitis Cohort, a prospective cohort study of PWID interviewed and tested for HCV infection at three-monthly intervals in Montréal, Québec. A first analysis examined the effect of injecting cessation episodes of three months or less on the risk of contracting HCV during 916 person-years of follow-up, using Cox regression (N=372). Results suggest that PWID with short injecting cessation episodes (3/3 months without injecting) or sporadic injecting cessation episodes (1/3 or 2/3 months without injecting) are 76% and 44% less at risk of contracting HCV than those with persistent injecting (0/3 months without injecting), respectively. A second analysis used group-based trajectory modeling to identify five distinct types of one-year injecting frequency trajectories and compared these in terms of HCV incidence over follow-up periods ranging from 71 to 355 person-years (N=386). Findings suggest that PWID injecting with consistently high frequencies (frequent) or time-varying frequencies (increasing, decreasing) are at greater HCV acquisition risk compared with those maintaining low injecting frequencies (sporadic, infrequent). Finally, a third analysis identified three types of one-year housing stability trajectories (sustained, declining, improving) and examined their associations with concomitant injecting frequency trajectories (N=386). Findings suggest an association between improving housing stability and decreasing injecting frequency, but also a higher probability of increasing injecting frequency among PWID who maintain housing stability compared to those that improve it. Collectively, these findings have numerous implications for HCV prevention. Clinically, instability in injecting frequency appears to be a risk factor that should be monitored regularly. From a public health perspective, interventions that promote engagement in injecting cessation episodes or maintenance of low injecting frequency may be promising. Finally, strategies aimed to improve housing stability may help PWID to decrease their injecting frequency but may not be sufficient to help them maintain low injecting frequencies once housing stability is achieved.

This thesis aims to understand why the World health organization’s Global programme on aids (WHO GPA) does not appear to be able to collaborate with non-governmental actors (NGO), even though booth WHO GPA and NGO`s appears to value and seek cooperation. The purpose of this thesis is to examine whether the lack of cooperation between WHO GPA and NGO: s can be explained using new interdependence approach or if the actions of WHO´s member states v. The selected case in this thesis is WHO GPA which existed from 1987 to 1995 and represents the first anti-aids program supported by UN and its member states. WHO GPA is therefore active in a policy area where a lot of interactions with NGO: s could be expected. To analyse the apparent lack of cooperation between WHO GPA and relevant NGO: s, this article will apply the theories new interdependence approach and neorealism. To explain the research questions, how does the interaction between WHO GPA and NGO: s appear within the global effort against the aids pandemic, what role did member states have in limiting or enable formal cooperation between WHO GPA and NGO:s and finally how the theory new interdependence approach can explain the interactions between the WHO GPA and NGO: s. To answer the research questions this thesis will apply a qualitative text analysis on material from WHO GPA, for example annual reviews, as well as previous research articles and books that concerns the WHO GPA. The analysis concludes that the interaction between WHO GPA and NGO: s, can be explained with the fact that informal cooperation does appear but not formal cooperation. This appears to be because while booth WHO GPA and NGO: s seeks support and cooperation, the interactions between them is still affected by mistrust. The member state’s role in limiting or enabling cooperation can be answered two levels, globally where powerful states have strong informal powers to control WHO GPA. When NGO: s are granted formal representation, the selection of NGO: s is not representative of the larger NGO community and not in response to cooperation between WHO GPA and NGO:s. Recipient states does also appear to hinder cooperation between NGO:s, WHO GPA and national aids programmes, because of rivalry between the state and NGO over limited aid. Finally, new interdependence approach appears to explain to lack of formal cooperation, because of a lack of distinct resources. However, it cannot explain the cases where NGO: s achieved official representation as the result of cross-national layering.

This dissertation is a historical evaluation of the movement of the English courts from the doctrine of pith and marrow to the Catnic test in the determination of non-textual infringement of patents. It considers how and why the doctrine was replaced with the Catnic test. It concludes that this movement occurred as a result of the adoption by a group of judges of literalism in the construction of patents while another group dissented and maintained the correct application of the doctrine. Although the Court of Appeal and the House of Lords initially approved the literalist approach, they, after realising its untennability, adopted the dissenters’ approach, but, ultimately, adopted the Catnic test in which features of the dissenters’ approach were included. The dissertation concludes that the doctrine of pith and marrow, correctly applied, should have been retained as the Catnic test creates uncertainty and confusion. / Mercantile Law / LL.M.

This dissertation is a challenge to the Pentecostal churches, particularly, the Apostolic Faith Mission Church in Tumahole, to take an action in meeting the challenges posed by HIV/AIDS. This disease, HIV/AIDS, is the latest enemy to human life that the nations are faced with. In the newspapers like Sowetan, there is an article almost daily about HIV and AIDS. In this dissertation, I have tried to show shocking figures of how this disease is spreading in Africa. The seriousness of the disease, unlike other diseases, is its in curability. The secular organisations are far ahead of the churches in as far as the relevant programmes on combating HIV/AIDS are concerned. Despite these massive programmes, the disease is spreading like the wild fire. Deducing from this background, it is no longer the question of whether the Pentecostal churches have any role to play, but what specific role should the church play in this challenge. In this challenging times, many people look at the church as one of the most important institute that would play a positive role in bringing hope to the hopeless. / Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiology / M. Th. (Missiology (Urban Ministry))

When the meritless scrabble for the bauble of deity, they ironically set their human lives at the “pin’s fee” to which Shakespeare’s Hamlet refers. This thesis focuses on these undeserving individuals in premillennial and postmillennial fiction, who seek immortality at the expense of both their humanities, and their natural mortalities. I will analyse an array of popular modern characters, paying particular attention to the precursors of immortal personages. I will inaugurate these analyses with an examination of fan favourite series

This dissertation is a challenge to the Pentecostal churches, particularly, the Apostolic Faith Mission Church in Tumahole, to take an action in meeting the challenges posed by HIV/AIDS. This disease, HIV/AIDS, is the latest enemy to human life that the nations are faced with. In the newspapers like Sowetan, there is an article almost daily about HIV and AIDS. In this dissertation, I have tried to show shocking figures of how this disease is spreading in Africa. The seriousness of the disease, unlike other diseases, is its in curability. The secular organisations are far ahead of the churches in as far as the relevant programmes on combating HIV/AIDS are concerned. Despite these massive programmes, the disease is spreading like the wild fire. Deducing from this background, it is no longer the question of whether the Pentecostal churches have any role to play, but what specific role should the church play in this challenge. In this challenging times, many people look at the church as one of the most important institute that would play a positive role in bringing hope to the hopeless. / Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiology / M. Th. (Missiology (Urban Ministry))